Think, Laugh, Cry (TLC) #9

Are hidden biases sabotaging your decisions? Download this TLC Report and master your perspective before it’s too late.

THINK

The way an argument or explanation is initially framed can have a profound and lasting impact on how it is perceived and understood. Framing sets the tone and establishes a cognitive anchor, shaping how people interpret and remember information. And a skilled communicator, in addition to presenting the facts, can guide the audience toward a specific perspective.

For example, describing a policy as “protecting natural resources” can evoke positive feelings of stewardship, while framing the same policy as “restricting economic growth” creates resistance and concern. This initial presentation acts as a filter for how future discussions about the issue unfold, influencing public opinion and dialogue in powerful ways.

Framing is particularly influential because it triggers confirmation bias, a natural human tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information in a way that aligns with preexisting beliefs or the initial framing of an issue. This bias simplifies information processing by filtering it through preconceived notions but often at the cost of objectivity.