Do you have "zero-sum" bias?

[msc545]

"Zero-sum bias describes intuitively judging a situation to be zero-sum (i. e., resources gained by one party are matched by corresponding losses to another party) when it is actually non-zero-sum."

[lightbulb27]

Never heard of... I don't think so but need more clarity and examples.

It sounds like that is rooted in some form of hopelessness... which may be some underlying loss, sadness.

Maybe it's based on selfishness or lack of concern for others.

I'm not hopeless, Christ repaired that. I try to be realistic. Maybe a "test" would answer, I don't think "we" really see ourselves so well as to answer questions like this and as well, our answers may vary under different stressors when our deeper emotions are tested.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero-sum_thinking

[msc545]

@lightbulb27 See if this helps:

www.frontiersin.org/.../full#F4

[lightbulb27]

I don't think so. This thinking is based upon "limited resources" vs unlimited resources.
But maybe, I'd have to take a test...
It may depend up on the topic being evaluated, like investing, scavenging for morel mushrooms, etc..
be interesting to understand if such behavior applies to youngest, or kids whom received given abuse, etc..

[SnowedIn]

Very rarely. I think a lot of things (material and not) are zero sum but very many are non zero sum. I try to enter into whatever open minded.

[SnowedIn]

Thank you very much for MHO!

[WindAtMyBack]

No, if anything the opposite. Although there are a LOT of people who think in terms of zero sum, especially with economics. A lot of people really believe that rich people get rich by taking money or taking advantage of others. It just doesn't work that way.

There are other biases and wrong logic that are related but not the same. It happens with gamblers a lot. It happens with stock market predictions. It happens with online video games (related to RNG). Sunk costs is a big one that people have a hard time getting around even when they are aware of it.

[NathanDavis]

interesting study... and it turns out, that I do not

[exitseven]

I think that for every person in China that gets lifted out of poverty there is an American that loses their job and gets screwed.

[OatmealMuffin]

You can't have rich people without poor people. Some people just don't get that.

[supercutebutt]

@OatmealMuffin @exitseven Money is a concept created by people. And people are greedy. And the greedy will lie to you to keep their wealth.

[msc545]

A great example of zero-sum bias, Exit!

[exitseven]

@msc545 It is what it is.

[msc545]

yes. Jobs are really not a limited commodity.

[exitseven]

@msc545 no, but good jobs are hard to find.

[msc545]

yes they are.

[Guy13]

Not following 🤷🏻‍♂️

[msc545]

www.frontiersin.org/.../full

[Guy13]

Got it. Thanks.

[msc545]

Great - glad you read it!

[OddBeMe]

I have zero sum patience sometimes…

[Anonymous]

I'm zeroed out.😂