The second, deeper layer of cognitive psychitecture is motivational. Motivated biases are not little bugs in the system. They are the system functioning as intended. I am not just talking to conspiracy theorists or religious fanatics or political ideologues here. Everyone has cherished beliefs. And we can’t simply will these beliefs away. We have to unplug the desires that perpetuate them. In order to do this, you need the habit of not only noticing the triggers for common biases, but of taking stock of your desires to hold certain beliefs, and the intensity of these desires. Notice which
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