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"Consider the Opposite" Practice

Before confirming a decision, spend 10 minutes writing the counter-case forcefully.

20 min Intermediate

Goal

Break confirmation bias seeing only what supports your initial choice.

Steps

1

Write your tentative decision.

4 more steps locked

Expected Outcome

Immediate

You uncover 1-2 weaknesses in your option you'd have regretted.

Evidence base

School: Confirmation Bias Research

Founders: Charles Lord · Lee Ross · Mark Lepper (1979)

Lord, Ross & Lepper — Stanford experiment (JPSP 1979): writing "opposite" reduces confirmation bias by 50%.

Frequently asked questions

How long does ""Consider the Opposite" Practice" take?

This exercise takes about 20 minutes, practiced solo in a Written reflection format.

When will I notice the effect of ""Consider the Opposite" Practice"?

You uncover 1-2 weaknesses in your option you'd have regretted. In the short term: After 5 decisions, you learn to see errors pre-occurrence.

Is ""Consider the Opposite" Practice" evidence-based?

Yes — it draws on Confirmation Bias Research (Charles Lord, Lee Ross, Mark Lepper (1979)). Lord, Ross & Lepper — Stanford experiment (JPSP 1979): writing "opposite" reduces confirmation bias by 50%.

Is ""Consider the Opposite" Practice" suitable for beginners?

Its difficulty level is: Intermediate. No external tools required — it can be practiced directly inside the app.

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