The Reasons Why We Do Irrational Things

Irrational thoughts enter our brains and affect our actions more often than we’d like to admit. From the sugary donut you regretted before taking your first bite, to getting upset with others for making the same mistakes you do — irrationality comes in many forms and seems to carry plenty of drawbacks.

Yet, researchers note that the behaviour also gives our overly-taxed brains a rest and can even spark new innovations.

• Human beings are not logical, we are storytellers most interested in emotional comfort and safety.
• We can convince ourselves and justify anything.
• This is partly because our brains haven’t had a significant upgrade for millions of years.
• On top of that, the human brain takes up 20 percent or more of our energy.
• Shortcuts can lead to accepting probabilities as facts, succumbing to confirmation bias and convincing ourselves that we have the ability to truly multitask.