The human brain, despite its incredible abilities, is struggling to cope with the complexity of modern social problems. The cognitive evolution that equipped our ancestors to survive in small groups is insufficient for tackling global crises such as climate change, pandemics, and economic inequality. Our brains are wired to prioritise immediate threats and rewards, making it difficult to address issues that require long-term planning and collective action.
The cognitive biases that served us well in the past now hinder our ability to understand and solve complex problems. Confirmation bias, for instance, leads us to seek out information that supports our existing beliefs, while the availability heuristic makes us overestimate the importance of information that is readily available. These biases can distort our perception of reality and impede effective decision-making.
Technological advances have exacerbated these challenges by increasing the pace of change and the volume of information we must process. While technology offers potential solutions, such as artificial intelligence and collective intelligence, these tools must be used wisely to avoid unintended consequences. Ultimately, overcoming the limitations of the human brain will require a combination of education, technology, and institutional reform.
Go to source article: https://aeon.co/essays/the-complexity-of-social-problems-is-outsmarting-the-human-brain