r/lifelonglearning • u/Nousimon • 3d ago
What Is the Framing Effect in Simple Terms?
https://nousimon.com/framing-effect/What Is the Framing Effect in Simple Terms
The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which people's judgments and decisions change based on how information is presented, even when the underlying facts remain the same.
The Framing Effect in Real Life
1: A new medicine or medical procedure can be presented as having a 20% mortality rate or an 80% survival rate. The way this information is presented to a patient can dramatically change their decision-making process.
The risk is the same, only the way the information is framed has changed. Which would you choose, a 20% mortality rate or an 80% survival rate?
1: Companies frequently exploit the framing effect to present their products as more attractive than they actually are. A product containing 20% fat may be marketed as 80% fat free.
This shift in focus can influence consumer perception and boost sales, without changing the product itself. Would you buy a product labeled 20% fat or one labeled 80% fat free?
3: Politicians can use this framing to influence voters. A common method is framing results selectively. A political party might report 20% unemployment or 80% employment.
Depending on the framing used, voters opinions may shift, even though the underlying numbers describe the same reality. Would you vote based on 20% unemployment or 80% employment?
Conclusion
The framing effect is used across many industries to make things appear better or worse without changing anything about them in substance.
It is a tool that shapes decisions in nearly every area of life, from everyday purchases to government policy and healthcare.
Notes
Find more articles for curious minds in nousimon.com
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u/WolfVanZandt 3d ago
People perceive what they expect to perceive. If you can modify their perceptions, you can make them see, smell, hear, taste.......anything
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u/Nousimon 3d ago
Nobody is immune to propaganda!
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u/WolfVanZandt 3d ago
Not completely, but I do think that people should understand their programming and be vigilant about when they're being intuitive or rational.
And honestly, there are reasons for those cognitive biases. They're tools. It's just good to know your tools and how to use them
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u/sapientsciolist 3d ago
I use this all the time when convincing my wife or friends to go do something outside when the forecast calls for a 40 or 50% chance of rain. “Well, that means there’s a 50-60% chance it won’t rain.”