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Doing it the Hard Way

By Hidden Brain Media

In this episode of Hidden Brain, host Shankar Vedantam and researcher Michael Inzlicht explore the human tendency to avoid effort and seek the path of least resistance. They discuss how this behavioral pattern influences daily decisions, from choosing walking routes to making lifestyle choices, and examine how behavioral scientists have used this principle to design systems that encourage better choices in areas like retirement savings and organ donation.

The conversation then delves into what Inzlicht calls the "effort paradox": while humans naturally avoid effort, engaging in challenging activities often leads to a deeper sense of meaning and personal growth. Through examples ranging from parenting to marathon running, they examine how difficult experiences can build competence and resilience, and why people sometimes voluntarily choose harder paths despite their natural inclination to avoid effort.

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Doing it the Hard Way

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Doing it the Hard Way

1-Page Summary

Least Effort and Tendency to Avoid Effort

Michael Inzlicht and Shankar Vedantam discuss how humans and other organisms naturally gravitate toward expending less effort when pursuing rewards. Inzlicht explains that this "law of least effort" manifests in everyday choices, from taking shortcuts while walking to choosing relaxation over novel experiences.

Vedantam describes how economists and behavioral scientists have leveraged this principle to design systems that make beneficial behaviors easier, such as automatic enrollment in retirement savings plans and organ donation programs. By making virtuous actions the path of least resistance, these systems effectively nudge people toward better choices.

Effort Leads To Meaning and Competence

While humans tend to avoid effort, Inzlicht reveals that exerting effort often creates a deeper sense of meaning and competence. In one study, participants found more meaning in a tedious task simply because they had worked hard at it. This phenomenon extends to various situations, from assembling IKEA furniture to completing challenging hikes.

Inzlicht and Vedantam explore how this principle applies to parenting - while daily tasks might be draining, the effort invested creates a profound sense of meaning and competence. This process of learning and mastery through effort contributes to self-actualization and can transfer to other areas of life.

The "Effort Paradox"

Inzlicht introduces the "effort paradox" - despite our inclination to avoid effort, people often voluntarily choose difficult tasks. He notes that individuals would rather engage in challenging activities, even self-administering electric shocks, than remain idle. Through personal examples of demanding hikes and travels, Inzlicht demonstrates how physically taxing experiences can lead to meaningful achievements and personal growth.

Mary Pan's experience running a challenging half marathon illustrates how pushing through difficulties helps build personal narratives of capability and resilience. Vedantam and Inzlicht emphasize that valuing effort and perseverance over outcomes encourages a growth mindset, making it easier to tackle future challenges.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The "law of least effort" posits that individuals and organisms tend to choose the easiest path or option when pursuing rewards or goals. This principle influences decision-making in various aspects of life, from daily tasks to complex challenges. By understanding this tendency, researchers and designers can create systems that make desirable behaviors more effortless and appealing. Despite the inclination to seek ease, engaging in effortful tasks can lead to a deeper sense of meaning, competence, and personal growth.
  • Nudging people towards better choices involves designing systems or environments in a way that makes positive behaviors easier and more appealing, without restricting options or enforcing rules. This concept is based on the idea that subtle changes in how choices are presented can influence decision-making towards more beneficial outcomes. By leveraging behavioral insights, nudges aim to guide individuals towards actions that align with their long-term goals and well-being. This approach is often used in areas like public policy, healthcare, and finance to encourage desirable behaviors without mandating them.
  • The "effort paradox" describes the phenomenon where individuals, despite a natural tendency to avoid effort, often willingly choose challenging tasks. This willingness to engage in difficult activities can lead to personal growth, meaningful achievements, and the development of resilience. Valuing effort and perseverance over outcomes can foster a growth mindset, making it easier to tackle future challenges. The paradox highlights how embracing effort can lead to profound personal development and a sense of accomplishment.
  • A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and perseverance. It contrasts with a fixed mindset, which sees abilities as innate and unchangeable. Embracing a growth mindset can lead to resilience, motivation, and a willingness to take on challenges to foster personal growth and development. This mindset encourages individuals to focus on the process of learning and improvement rather than solely on outcomes or innate talent.

Counterarguments

  • While the "law of least effort" is observable, it may not account for individual differences in motivation and personality, which can lead some people to consistently seek out challenges despite the inherent effort required.
  • Systems designed to make beneficial behaviors easier could potentially reduce personal agency and the ability to make conscious choices, leading to a form of paternalism where individuals are not fully in control of their decisions.
  • The idea that effort leads to meaning and competence might not universally apply; some individuals may find meaning in effortless activities or in the state of flow, which is characterized by engagement in tasks that are neither too easy nor too difficult.
  • The concept that effort contributes to self-actualization overlooks the fact that sometimes, excessive effort can lead to burnout and decreased well-being, suggesting that balance is key.
  • The "effort paradox" might be influenced by cultural values that glorify hard work and perseverance, and may not be as prevalent in cultures that prioritize harmony and balance over individual achievement.
  • The preference for engaging in challenging activities over idleness could be partially explained by societal pressures to be productive, rather than an inherent desire for challenge.
  • The narrative that physically taxing experiences lead to personal growth may not acknowledge the potential for physical and psychological harm that can occur when individuals push themselves beyond their limits.
  • Building personal narratives of capability and resilience through difficulty might not take into account the role of support systems and resources, which can significantly affect one's ability to overcome challenges.
  • Encouraging a growth mindset by valuing effort over outcomes may inadvertently minimize the importance of results, which are often necessary for practical success and societal contribution.

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Doing it the Hard Way

Least Effort and Tendency to Avoid Effort

Michael Inzlicht and Shankar Vedantam explore how the law of least effort affects human behavior and decision-making, influencing everything from daily choices to systemic designs.

"People Prefer Less Effort for Same Reward"

Michael Inzlicht explains the principle of least effort, also known as the law of least effort or law of less work, suggesting that all organisms are prone to expending less effort to achieve the same reward. This tendency is evident in how people often choose the less effortful path, such as opting for shortcuts over neatly laid out streets and walking paths. Inzlicht notes that this behavior is observed not only in humans but also in animals who naturally carve out the shortest route between two points.

Economists and Behavioral Scientists Used This Principle to Design Systems Making Virtuous Behaviors the Path of Least Resistance

Inzlicht confesses personal moments reflecting this principle. He admits he would rather get back to his hotel room to relax and doom scroll on the internet than experience cherry blossoms, a sight he had wanted to see his whole life. Although he is extroverted and enjoys social occasions, he often finds himself wishing he could stay in to watch television instead.

Shankar Vedantam goes on to explain how economists have utilized this preference for less effort to enhance retirement savings plans by intro ...

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Least Effort and Tendency to Avoid Effort

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Doomscrolling is the act of continuously consuming negative news and information on the internet and social media platforms. It often involves getting caught up in a cycle of reading distressing content, leading to heightened anxiety and a sense of losing control. The term gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic as people spent excessive time consuming alarming news. Doomscrolling can have adverse effects on mental and emotional well-being, contributing to feelings of overwhelm and pessimism.
  • Nudges are subtle interventions designed to influence people's behavior without restricting their choices. They are often used in economics and behavioral science to guide individuals towards making better decisions. By altering the way choices are presented or framing decisions, nudges can encourage positive behaviors without mandating them. Organ donation opt-out systems and automatic enrollment in savings plans are examples of nudges that leverage the principle of least effort to promote beneficial actions.
  • Choice architecture involves how choices are presented to influ ...

Counterarguments

  • The principle of least effort might not always lead to the best outcomes, as some rewarding experiences and achievements require hard work and effort.
  • Over-reliance on the path of least resistance could lead to a lack of resilience and problem-solving skills when faced with challenges that require more effort.
  • Automatic systems, such as retirement savings plans, might not be suitable for everyone, and individuals should have the freedom to opt-in rather than having to opt-out.
  • Nudges and choice architecture could be seen as manipulative, potentially infringing on individual autonomy and the right to make fully informed decisions.
  • There may be ethical considerations in making organ donation the default option, as it could be argued that consent should be explicit and active rather than assumed.
  • The law of least effort does not account for individual differences in moti ...

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Doing it the Hard Way

Effort Leads To Meaning and Competence, Not Pleasure

Michael Inzlicht and Shankar Vedantam explore the idea that effort can create a sense of meaning and competence, rather than immediate pleasure, and how this concept is reflected in various aspects of life, such as work and parenting.

Effortful Tasks Can Instill Meaning and Growth

Effort seems to increase the perceived meaning and significance in tasks, even when those tasks are inherently unpleasurable or mundane.

Effort Increases Meaning and Significance In Simple Tasks

Michael Inzlicht discusses a study in which participants were given a tedious task of adding three to each digit of a four-digit number. Despite the task's dullness, people imbued it with increased importance and meaning after exerting effort on it. He further explains the "IKEA effect," where individuals value self-assembled IKEA furniture more than if it were pre-built, feeling a sense of pride in their creations even though they might be imperfect.

More Satisfaction From Difficult Challenges Than Easy Activities

Inzlicht and Vedantam debate how individuals find meaning in arduous tasks. From everyday activities to an exhausting hike in Turkey, people often ascribe meaning to experiences after rationalizing the effort they put into them. For instance, Inzlicht describes his own hiking experience as meaningful, illustrating how effort can separate the connection between pleasure and meaning. Additionally, efforts like writing an essay are inherently more meaningful to people, even when an AI can produce a better output.

Effort Fosters Competence and Self-Actualization

Effort is not just about gaining material rewards; it's about feeling competent and achieving self-actualization.

Why Parents Find Parenting Mea ...

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Effort Leads To Meaning and Competence, Not Pleasure

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The "IKEA effect" is a cognitive bias where people tend to overvalue products they have assembled themselves. This bias leads individuals to place a higher value on items they have contributed effort to create, even if the quality may not be objectively superior. The term originates from the Swedish furniture retailer IKEA, known for selling products that require self-assembly. Studies have shown that individuals are willing to pay more for self-assembled items due to the sense of pride and ownership associated with the effort put into creating them.
  • Self-actualization is a psychological term that describes the realization of one's potential, leading to personal fulfillment and growth. It involves striving to become the best version of oneself, pursuing goals that align with one's values and beliefs. This concept, popularized by psychologist Abraham Maslow, suggests that individuals who achieve self-actualization are self-aware, creative, and focused on personal development. Self-actualized individuals are driven by a desire for personal growth, authenticity, and a deep sense of purpose in life.
  • Retrospectively justifying hard efforts as meaningful means looking back on challenging or tedious tasks and finding value or significance in them after the effort has been exerted. This process involves attributing a sense of purpose or importance to tasks that may not have been enjoyable in the moment. It can involve reframing past experiences to see them in a positive light, emphasizing the growth, learning, or achievement that resulted from the effort expended. This retrospective justification can help individuals make sense of their past struggles and ...

Counterarguments

  • Effort does not always lead to a sense of meaning or competence; sometimes it can lead to burnout and frustration.
  • The perceived increase in meaning and significance might be a cognitive bias, such as the sunk cost fallacy, rather than a true increase in value.
  • Satisfaction from difficult challenges may not be universal; some individuals may derive more satisfaction from efficiency and ease.
  • Rationalizing effort as meaningful could be a post-hoc justification to cope with the discomfort of wasted effort, rather than an accurate assessment of the situation.
  • Competence and self-actualization can also be achieved through activities that do not require significant effort, such as through natural talents or enjoyable activities.
  • The idea that drudgery leads to learning and mastery may not account for the quality of the experience or the potential for negative outcomes like resentment or disengagement.
  • While parenting can provide a sense of mean ...

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Doing it the Hard Way

The "Effort Paradox" - Why Choose Difficult Tasks

Michael Inzlicht and his colleagues tackle the intriguing concept of the effort paradox, exploring why people engage in difficult tasks despite a natural tendency to avoid exertion.

People Often Volunteer For Difficult Tasks Despite Effort Bias

Effort Paradox: Effort Yields Achievement, Meaning, and Growth Lacking In Pleasure

Michael Inzlicht and his colleagues have delved into the "effort paradox" – a phenomenon where people typically want to minimize effort through innovation, yet voluntarily choose tasks where effort is seemingly the main reward. A study even showed that people would prefer to deliver self-administered electric shocks than be idle for a short period, which highlights a preference for doing something effortful over the discomfort of doing nothing. Even with the option to exert little effort during a brief break, people repeatedly chose activity over inactivity to avoid boredom.

Reflecting on his own experiences, Inzlicht recalls a grueling hike in Turkey and a trip to Indonesia, discussing how these physically taxing endeavors led to feelings of achievement and personal growth that were more substantial than those from easier tasks. Seeing the active volcano Mount Bromo, for example, created a lasting memory that validated the effort of the unpleasant journey.

Challenging Oneself Builds a Narrative of Capability and Resilience

Another perspective on the effort paradox emerges through narratives. Inzlicht explains how effortful situations test our resilience and shape us into protagonists in our life stories, with both achievements and resilience arising from battling and overcoming obstacles.

Likewise, Mary Pan relates how she persevered in a challenging half marathon amid harsh weather conditions and physical pain, reinforcing her identity and core values of completing challenges. This principle applies generally – unpleasant experiences can become significant with time, as individuals retrospectively find meaning in these events, thus reinforcing their sense of self-capability.

Valuing Effort and Perseverance ...

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The "Effort Paradox" - Why Choose Difficult Tasks

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • While effort can lead to achievement and growth, it is not the only path; sometimes, smarter, not harder, work can be more effective.
  • The desire to avoid boredom by engaging in effortful tasks may not always be beneficial; it could lead to burnout or neglect of rest and recovery.
  • The narrative of capability and resilience built through challenging oneself may not account for the fact that some individuals may not have the same opportunities to face and overcome such challenges.
  • The emphasis on effort and perseverance might undervalue the role of innate talent, luck, or external support in achieving success.
  • The growth mindset, while beneficial, is not a panacea; there are situations where a fixed mindset might be more appropriate, such as when innate talent is a significant factor.
  • Praising effort exclusively could potentially lead to a devaluation of actual achievement and outcomes, which are also important.
  • Teaching children to value ...

Actionables

  • Start a "Challenge of the Week" where you commit to one new, effortful activity each week, such as learning a few phrases in a new language or cooking a complex recipe. This practice will help you embrace the effort paradox by actively seeking out tasks that are outside your comfort zone, leading to a sense of achievement and personal growth.
  • Create a "Boredom Breaker" jar filled with slips of paper that have written effortful activities on them, ranging from organizing a closet to writing a letter to a friend. Whenever you feel the urge to choose inactivity, draw an activity from the jar to engage in something productive, reinforcing the preference for effortful tasks over d ...

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