Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Irrational People! Research shows we make an average of 35,000 decisions each day. According to behavioral economist Dan Ariely, we get a staggering number of them wrong. I’ve spent years studying how our minds work against us when making choices.
The truth about human decision-making is transformative for business leaders who want to understand their customers, employees, and themselves.
Our brains are magnificent pattern-recognition machines that sometimes spot patterns that aren’t there. We’re emotional creatures masquerading as logical ones.
Do you find yourself getting frustrated or annoyed when people make irrational decisions? Have you ever wished people would just listen to logic and good sense instead of their emotions?
Most of us live on the irrational side of things at some point in our life.
What is the Irrationality of the Irrational people?
The irrationality of the mind is our thoughts that have no reason, logic, or understanding. Such ideas stem from beliefs based on past experiences, positive or negative. In the long term, these irrational thoughts can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and psychosis.
Sometimes, irrational behavior happens due to emotional reactions when making difficult decisions. When we face a situation like this, the person can have a strong burst of emotions that seems unreasonable. And this initiates irrational thoughts and actions.
Irrational thoughts can form from several factors, including anxiety and anxiousness. They are also common in people who have been through traumatic experiences or who face such situations often.
Furthermore, irrationality is an inherent part of the human thought process.
Your mind is as unique as your fingerprints — no two are alike.
– Pshcycentral
Types of Irrational Behavior
Irrational thinking is wild, illogical thoughts and behaviors. It can include unprovoked anger, irritability, and impulsive behavior.
Remember, only a trained health professional can diagnose irrational behavior.
1. Cognitive Dissonance, How can conflicting beliefs lead to irrational behavior?
Hmm! Cognitive dissonance. Let’s see, it’s like a puzzle with pieces from two different puzzles. They don’t fit. It can make people feel confused or stressed. Sometimes, people ignore or hide information that doesn’t match their beliefs. You must have seen this at your school or the office.
For example, let’s say you love animals but also eat meat. You can feel uncomfortable when you stumble on a video of how people treat animals on a farm.
When you closely see, you will ignore the information or even believe that it’s not true. This happens because you don’t want to give up meat. This is cognitive dissonance.
To make better choices, think carefully about all the information and try to understand the feeling.
So now, ask yourself. “Does this make sense?”
2. Superstitions and Magical Thinking: Believing in things that have no basis in reality
Superstitions are irrational beliefs about actions, objects, or events that will bring luck or misfortune. Common superstitions and magical thinking beliefs include believing in luck, good omens, and the power of certain rituals or objects.
It can also include compulsive behaviors, avoidance of objects or situations, and intense fear of the unknown. Irrational behavior related to superstitions and magical thinking is quite common. These behaviors can range from excessive risk-taking to obsessive behaviors like cleaning.
3. Confirmation Bias: Only looking for evidence that confirms pre-existing beliefs
Confirmation bias pushes people to search for evidence that confirms their own views. They drive emotions of pain or pleasure, which can lead to many other tendencies.
One example of this bias is when salespeople are passionate about their products, and it can be deceptive. This behavior can be countered by skeptically studying the evidence. And seeking out evidence that disagrees with what one and others want to believe.
So, it is better to question our beliefs and be okay to change them when we get a clear picture.
10 Tips for Dealing with Irrational People
Time needed: 5 minutes
Here are 10 expert tips to deal with irrational people around you.
- Remain calm
If someone is acting irrationally, stay calm and don’t let their behavior upset your mind.
- Listen carefully
Listen to everything they say, though it makes no sense to you. Sometimes their perspective will lead you to a new understanding that had blinded you.
- Empathize
Imagine yourself in their situation and try to understand why they are feeling upset or frustrated.
- Manage your tone
Speak calmly to help them manage the situation.
- Don’t argue
It’s not helpful to argue with someone who is acting irrationally. Instead, see what works for them.
- Validate their feelings
Acknowledge them and give importance to what they speak.
- Avoid blame
There is no point in the blame game; you won’t get anywhere with this.
- Take a break
If the situation becomes overwhelming, take a break! Restart the conversation when they get some time to breathe.
- Offer solutions
Try to offer solutions to the problem instead of dwelling on the irrational behavior.
- Seek help
Remember, you can’t solve all the problems. Sometimes, ask for help. There is no shame in it.
The Psychology of Irrationality
Experts discuss irrationality in psychotherapy. Mostly in Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), developed by American psychologist Albert Ellis in 1955.
According to this approach, irrational thoughts and behaviors stem from emotional responses that drive them. In particular, Ellis argues that our emotional responses can sometimes cause us to engage in irrational thinking and actions.
It includes things like conviction and appearance biases. It’s like being overly confident or appearing confident when we are not, which can lead to harmful decisions and behaviors.
Irrational thoughts can stem from anxiety and mental health conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. But, people must recognize these thoughts and challenge them. By recognizing and challenging irrational thoughts regularly, people can learn to manage their reactions to irrational thinking.
Also, our amygdala is responsible for fear, anger, and contempt. It sometimes overrides our ability to think clearly.
Understanding the amygdala’s influence on our emotions is key to developing empathy and building rapport. Especially when dealing with individuals who are often labeled “impossible people.
According to Mark Goulston, a renowned psychiatrist, negative personality disorders are often the result of cognitive distortions. Or distorted thinking patterns that contribute to negativity and contempt.
Recognizing these distortions is the first step towards developing self-control and managing irrational reactions in both personal and professional life. Once we understand how cognitive distortions contribute to negativity, we shift our thinking patterns.
Cognitive Biases, How do they affect decision-making in irrational people?
Cognitive biases are like tricks that our brains play on us. They influence our decisions, sometimes without us knowing it.
For example, we decide based on what we remember instead of considering all the facts. Or we think something is going to happen just because it happened recently.
Emotions of Irrational People, How can emotions influence behavior?
Emotional responses can affect our decisions, leading to irrational behavior. For example, when making a difficult choice, people often prioritize their emotional needs over their rational ones.
This more often results in poor choice or decision-making. Instead of prioritizing rationality, people can opt for quick or easy solutions that satisfy their emotional cravings.
As noted in ScienceDirect, Our brain has three functions:
- The Reptilian Lower Brain
- Paleomammalian Middle Brain
- The Neomammalian Upper Brain
These functions work together to make decisions and rationalize behavior.
When emotions are involved in decision-making, it is because the Reptilian Lower Brain is processing information quickly. And it is making immediate decisions based on emotions rather than logic.
The Paleomammalian Middle Brain then analyzes and rationalizes these decisions further. It leads to irrational behavior as it struggles to balance immediate impulses with longer-term goals.
The Neomammalian Upper Brain is responsible for weighing evidence and making more considered decisions based on logic rather than emotion.
But, this goes unnoticed as people automatically rely on emotions when making important decisions.
The Power of Belief on irrational behavior.
We all know that people often overestimate what they can control in life.
This phenomenon, known as the ‘illusion of control,‘ can lead people to irrational and painful decisions.
Our beliefs are ideas about reality that usually influences how we feel and react. Let’s say you think you are awful at soccer. You feel apprehensive about joining a soccer team or playing with your buddies, even if you are skilled at it. It will be illogical, like avoiding something you want. Recognizing and challenging our beliefs is critical.
Frequently Asked Questions about Irrational People
Irrational people make decisions and take actions that go against logic, reason, or their own best interests. They often act on emotions or incorrect assumptions rather than facts. But, all humans show some level of irrationality – it’s part of our natural decision-making process.
Irrational behavior is any action that defies logical reasoning or goes against one’s self-interest. Think of panic buying during a crisis. Staying in harmful relationships despite clear warning signs. Or making important decisions based purely on emotions rather than evidence. It’s behavior that, when examined objectively, doesn’t make practical sense.
– Stay calm and have emotional distance.
– Listen without trying to fix or argue.
– Set clear boundaries about acceptable behavior.
– Validate their emotions while redirecting to facts.
– Use “I” statements to express your perspective.
If needed, take breaks from the interaction to preserve your own well-being.
– Continuing to play lottery despite repeatedly losing
– Making major purchases while emotionally distressed
– Refusing to evacuate during natural disasters despite warnings
– Holding onto losing investments because you “don’t want to lose”
– Making decisions based on superstitions rather than evidence
No, being irrational is a normal part of human behavior. Everyone acts irrationally sometimes. But, persistent or extreme irrational behavior that significantly impairs daily life shows an underlying mental health condition requiring professional evaluation.
Conclusion
Irrational behavior is a feature. We’ll never end our cognitive biases completely. But armed with the strategies we’ve explored, you can now spot these patterns in yourself and others. Then design environments that guide people toward better choices.
The next time you need to make a high-stakes decision, pause.
Ask yourself which cognitive biases can be at play. Your awareness of these hidden influences is your first defense against them.
Remember: The goal is to understand our irrationality so well that we can turn it into an advantage. Now that’s a superpower worth having.
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