Have you ever encountered a big decision on your life but solution looking impossible?
Maybe you are in a envirmoment that doesn't help you and blinds your decision making ability. That is exactly what we are going to talk about today, The blue dot effect.
What is The Blue Dot Effect?
The Blue Dot Effect is a interesting phenomenon, when you faced a decision before you even realize it is happening in your brain. In a sample when scarcity decrease and all the samples become more and more prevalance at similarity. Little differences lead our choices but those little hints are can be mistaking. In a sample of shades of blue and purple dots when scarcity happen on blue dots people tend to mistake purple dots as blue.
How Does The Blue Dot Effect Influence Your Decision Making Ability?
In the context of decision making,The Blue Dot Effect can significantly influence your choices and judgments. For example, if you are used to seeing a lot of high quality options (like the blue dots) and those options become scarce, you might start to considering lower quality choices (the purple dots) as acceptable. This opinion shifting can lead to decisions that differ from those you would make in a context where high quality options are plentiful.
Example of The Blue Dot Effect in Different Areas
Let's look at the examples of the blue dot effect in different areas for get to know much better and how it is affecting our judgement in different areas.
1. Education
In academic environments, "blue dots" represent students who achieve the highest grades, setting the standard for excellence. Over time, if the general performance levels decline due to various factors like changes in curriculum or teaching methods, grades that were once deemed average or "purple dots" (e.g., B grades) might be re-evaluated as top performances. This shift reflects the Blue Dot Effect, where the benchmark for academic excellence is adjusted based on overall changes in student performance.
2. Healthcare
Optimal patient care, the "blue dot," involves comprehensive, personalized treatment plans. However, in crisis situations like epidemics or natural disasters, healthcare systems are strained, leading to prioritization of urgent cases. This scenario might redefine shorter, more direct care approaches, previously considered "purple dots," as the new standard of acceptable care. The Blue Dot Effect in this context shows the adaptation of healthcare standards to the pressures of increased demand and resource constraints.
3. Corporate
In the corporate world, "blue dots" represent the ideal job candidates who meet all the desired qualifications with excellent credentials. During periods of skill shortages or economic downturns, the criteria may relax, and candidates who would have been considered "purple dots" – perhaps due to less experience or not fitting the exact profile – are now deemed suitable for roles. This phenomenon is an illustration of the Blue Dot Effect, where the scarcity of ideal candidates leads to a broadening of acceptable hiring standards.
4. Social
In the realm of social interactions, "blue dots" symbolize deep, meaningful friendships that provide significant support and satisfaction. When faced with a new social environment, such as moving to a new city, the challenge of building these close connections might lead to accepting more superficial or less fulfilling relationships, the "purple dots." This adaptation, triggered by the Blue Dot Effect, reflects the changing criteria for what constitutes an acceptable social circle in response to the immediate social environment.
5. Environmental
In environmental regulation, the "blue dots" are practices and technologies that achieve the highest standards of sustainability and minimal environmental impact. When regulatory pressures decrease or enforcement becomes lax, practices once deemed suboptimal or "purple dots" may gain acceptance. This Blue Dot Effect in environmental policy indicates a shift in what is considered environmentally responsible as regulatory landscapes change.
6. Fashion
In the fashion industry, "blue dots" refer to innovative and high-quality designs that set the trends. When economic factors or consumer preferences shift towards more cost-effective, mass-produced items ("purple dots"), these less innovative designs might become the mainstream. The Blue Dot Effect here shows how market dynamics can shift the industry's standards for what is considered fashionable or high-quality.
7. Science
In scientific research, "blue dots" are pioneering projects that push the boundaries of knowledge and innovation. Funding constraints or shifts in research priorities can lead to increased acceptance of projects that were previously considered less groundbreaking or "purple dots." The Blue Dot Effect in this context demonstrates how the valuation of scientific research can change based on funding availability and strategic priorities, expanding the criteria for what constitutes valuable research.
8. Finance
In the finance sector, particularly in stock market investments, "blue dots" represent stocks of well-performing, stable companies. In times of market instability or economic downturns, investors might broaden their portfolios to include stocks that were once viewed as too risky or "purple dots." This shift, indicative of the Blue Dot Effect, shows how investor behavior and risk tolerance can change in response to overall market conditions, leading to a reevaluation of what constitutes a wise investment.
9. Consumer Behavior
In the realm of consumer purchasing, "blue dots" symbolize products that are highly valued for their quality, brand reputation, or exclusivity. These are the items that consumers typically aspire to own, such as luxury vehicles, premium gadgets, or gourmet foods. However, during economic downturns or personal financial challenges, the perspective on what constitutes a desirable product can shift. Goods that were previously seen as lesser alternatives or "purple dots," like budget-friendly cars, off-brand electronics, or standard grocery items, may gain favor. This transformation, driven by the Blue Dot Effect, illustrates how consumer preferences and definitions of value can evolve in the face of changing economic circumstances, leading to a new understanding of what is considered a worthwhile purchase.
10. Social Media
In terms of beauty, "blue dots" denote the traditional, narrow standards prevalent on social media. As the platform diversifies, "purple dots" gain prominence, representing a broader range of beauty ideals. This shift signifies the Blue Dot Effect in beauty perceptions, highlighting a trend toward more inclusive and varied representations of beauty.
How to Free Yourself from The Blue Dot Effect on Decision Making?
Family, Friends, Education, Envirmoment you are growing and staying creates your norm and world view as you experience and see choices around you, you are creating blue dots and purple dots but these are not have many differences so you need a different envirmoment to see real purple dots that opposite or different world view you have this way you can look your problem in different perspectives and founding a solution become more easy.
1. Awareness - When you begin to question previously non-problematic areas of your life, take a step back and evaluate where you currently are. Are you looking to create drama by adding trivial things to your list of problems? Or is this actually coming for a different place in which case it needs to be addressed. Be honest with yourself.
2. Listen Different Sources - Since the core of the blue dot effect is perception, evaluate what your personal relationship is with the world. Do you absorb a lot of news which is tailored to keep you fearful and at the edge of your seat in order to conclude that the world is going to shit and it doesn’t get better? Step back from the external sources of negativity for a little bit (no, this will not make you “uninformed”) and focus on changing your perception of the world in a way that empowers you.
3. Establish Your Worldview - Think about what you like, what you hate, where you stand at that opinion knowing yourself is the first step to creating a solution to a problem.
4. Think yourself as a stranger - We are much better at solve problems others have because that shut off mostly noises that created by our worldview and create a more balanced solutions.
References:
Levari, David Emmanuel. 2018. Prevalence-Induced Concept Change in Human Judgment. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. [https://dash.harvard.edu/handle/1/41127358]
Further Reading:
Aditi Mehta (2020). The Blue Dot effect and how it’s secretly controlling your life. https://aditimehta687.medium.com/the-blue-dot-effect-and-how-its-secretly-controlling-your-life-2c1815c641c6
Further Watching:
Mark Manson 2023. The Blue Dot Effect https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBz5EdBhaYk
Science Magazine 2019. Are these dots purple or blue? Your answer might not be as reliable as you think https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoDlxQ7YDzc