5 ms·

If a subset of these inferences are shown to be wrong, wouldn't you want to make a conscious effort to stop making them? It would seem that becoming less biased

If a subset of these inferences are shown to be wrong, wouldn't you want to make a conscious effort to stop making them? It would seem that becoming less biased in your evaluation of people would benefit both you and those you're evaluating.

lhnz 12y ago
Conscious inference isn't always less wrong than unconscious inference. And it's likely that a subset of all perceptions might always be found to not match reality. High availability consciousness would probably require artificial intelligence, and even then there's simply too much data for us to be conscious of everything at all times.
- 001sky 12y ago
  Consciousness is bandwidth constrained. Subconscious is very lite computationally. In the context of scarce resources, it's better to have a calculation from the subconscious rather than to wait in line for a week to use the mainframe.
ams6110 12y ago
These inferences are developed over millenia of evolution. They are probably not wrong. Being able to judge trustworthiness, aggression, etc. based on a quick assesment of face is valuable for survival.
- tashi 12y ago
  An alternative theory is that we have evolved just to be good at distinguishing changing facial expressions (and body language), especially within our own social groups. Using this skill to match people's expressions with their behavior over time would give us a tool for making good predictions. But if we then met a complete stranger or tribe whose face at rest, say purely through random variation of bone structure, happened to look more aggressive or happier or more sneaky than the resting faces of our friends, it would lead us to make biased and unjustified predictions.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
- Houshalter 12y ago
  More likely it's just pattern matching. Just like people are more likely to relax in a room painted green, than one painted red. It has nothing to do with evolving to like green rooms.

lhnz 12y ago

Conscious inference isn't always less wrong than unconscious inference. And it's likely that a subset of all perceptions might always be found to not match reality. High availability consciousness would probably require artificial intelligence, and even then there's simply too much data for us to be conscious of everything at all times.

001sky 12y ago
Consciousness is bandwidth constrained. Subconscious is very lite computationally. In the context of scarce resources, it's better to have a calculation from the subconscious rather than to wait in line for a week to use the mainframe.

ams6110 12y ago

These inferences are developed over millenia of evolution. They are probably not wrong. Being able to judge trustworthiness, aggression, etc. based on a quick assesment of face is valuable for survival.

tashi 12y ago
An alternative theory is that we have evolved just to be good at distinguishing changing facial expressions (and body language), especially within our own social groups. Using this skill to match people's expressions with their behavior over time would give us a tool for making good predictions. But if we then met a complete stranger or tribe whose face at rest, say purely through random variation of bone structure, happened to look more aggressive or happier or more sneaky than the resting faces of our friends, it would lead us to make biased and unjustified predictions.
- deleted 12y ago
  [deleted]
Houshalter 12y ago
More likely it's just pattern matching. Just like people are more likely to relax in a room painted green, than one painted red. It has nothing to do with evolving to like green rooms.