Miswanting and the Focusing Illusion

Thinking, Fast and Slow

This flow traces how attention to a salient feature makes people overestimate its effect on future happiness and choose poorly.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Single Focus A Single Focus from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Thinking Makes It Large Attention Any aspect of life under consideration becomes disproportionately important.

A Single Focus from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Thinking Makes It Large Attention Any aspect of life under consideration becomes disproportionately important.

Thinking Makes It Large Attention Any aspect of life under consideration becomes disproportionately important. Substitution A narrow question replaces the broad evaluation people intended to make.

Climate Forecasts Climate Forecasts from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Imagined Weather Forecast Students predict that a person with their values would be happier in California.

Climate Forecasts from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Imagined Weather Forecast Students predict that a person with their values would be happier in California.

Imagined Weather Forecast Students predict that a person with their values would be happier in California. Reality Actual satisfaction is no higher than in the Midwest.

New Car Excitement New Car Excitement from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". The Attractive Purchase Initial Salience A new car promises durable happiness because its features are easy to imagine.

New Car Excitement from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". The Attractive Purchase Initial Salience A new car promises durable happiness because its features are easy to imagine.

The Attractive Purchase Initial Salience A new car promises durable happiness because its features are easy to imagine. Adaptation Ordinary use soon removes the car from attention.

Social Commitment Social Commitment from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Attention That Persists Weekly Contact A social group continues to occupy attention through repeated interaction.

Social Commitment from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Attention That Persists Weekly Contact A social group continues to occupy attention through repeated interaction.

Attention That Persists Weekly Contact A social group continues to occupy attention through repeated interaction. Hidden Value Its long-term benefit is easier to underestimate than the car's initial excitement.

Adaptive Ordinary Life Adaptive Ordinary Life from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Withdrawal of Attention Changed Circumstances Marriage, paraplegia, and wealth influence thoughts more reliably than momentary feelings.

Adaptive Ordinary Life from "Thinking, Fast and Slow". Withdrawal of Attention Changed Circumstances Marriage, paraplegia, and wealth influence thoughts more reliably than momentary feelings.

Withdrawal of Attention Changed Circumstances Marriage, paraplegia, and wealth influence thoughts more reliably than momentary feelings. Hybrid Well-Being A good life must include both lived experience and remembered goals.

During the final well-being chapters

During the California study

Later in the focusing-illusion chapter

Immediately after the car comparison

Near the end of Part 5