Link: http://www.etc-architect.com/?p=334
From ETC-Architect
There are a few mental peculiars amongst architects that I feel it is important to mention in my blog.
The confirmation bias, the tendency to interpret information in a way that confirms one’s beliefs, is especially strong amongst architects, as we all like to work on solutions while we gather data. As long as we are aware of this tendency it should not hinder us.
Congruence bias, the over reliance on directly testing a given hypothesis as well as neglecting indirect testing, is something mainly found in designers who are strongly solution directed. Again as long as we know that this lack can develop into a quicksand for us we should fine. However it is one of these very special areas where a bias is very specific against a small group of professionals.
The decoy effect, the phenomenon whereby consumers will tend to have a specific change in preference between two options when also presented with a third option that is asymmetrically dominated, however is widely used in areas like marketing. However in many areas of architecture we especially need to know on the manipulation of this effect both to stop using it to our benefit in an non ethical way and also to avoid falling victim to it.
The last problem in this list that architects often suffer is fixedness. Functional fixedness limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. It is very common among all people working in large and long established organisations. The important thing is acknowledge fixedness and play some simple games (usually available at any college) to reduce it. This is especially important for architects with more than ten years in a given industry. The games are far more useful for uss than for 7 to 21 years old that they are designed for. I can only highly recommend them.
