Keep reading for FREE
The Law Of Unintended Consequences
There are many situations and disastrous circumstances where impulsive and emotional solutions are applied, which apparently solve the problem but unintentionally create new problems or collateral damage that may be worse. This is known as The Law Of Unintended Consequences.
Example: The Forest Service rapidly extinguished forest fires as soon as they erupted, causing larger, more severe forest fires due to an abundance of unburned deadwood spread all over.
723
3.92K reads
Decision Making And The Law Of Unintended Consequences
Our worst decisions are only later known to us as being terrible ones. When we make those decisions, we think of them as good ones
We take shortcuts and solve problems in a quick-fix, rapid-relief method. We don’t consider any long-term effects or where the dominos will fall based on our choices.
685
2.95K reads
Reasons We Suffer From The Law Of Unintended Consequences
- We play it safe and do not want to take the time and investigate the root cause of a problem.
- Our many cognitive biases act like blind spots, making us only see immediate threats.
- We focus on something visual and available (like what’s on TV) and worry about those problems instead of focusing on the real but invisible problems which may be more lethal.
- Our decisions have certain compounding effects that are not visible for years, yet when the entire time period and the corresponding events are accounted for, the stupidity of the solution is revealed.
736
2.06K reads
Avoiding The Law Of Unintended Consequences
Some basic techniques we can apply to minimize the unintended problems:
- Apply non-action: Not acting out the impulsive reaction that we think will solve a problem is often the simplest way to let it subside.
- Think of the risks: What feels right is often not so. Take the worst-case scenario into account.
- The opposite effect: Understand that regulating or focusing on eradicating something can even lead to its proliferation.
- The undo button: Permanent decisions that can’t be undone are the worst offenders. If you have to make a decision, make something that can be corrected.
770
2.13K reads
CURATED BY
"I think the next best thing to solving a problem is finding some humor in it." -Frank Howard Clark
MORE LIKE THIS
Ready for the next level?
Read Like a Pro
Explore the World’s
Best Ideas
200,000+ ideas on pretty much any topic. Created by the smartest people around & well-organized so you can explore at will.
An Idea for Everything
Explore the biggest library of insights. And we've infused it with powerful filtering tools so you can easily find what you need.
Knowledge Library
Powerful Saving & Organizational Tools
Save ideas for later reading, for personalized stashes, or for remembering it later.
Start
31 IDEAS
Start
44 IDEAS
# Personal Growth
Take Your Ideas
Anywhere
Organize your ideas & listen on the go. And with Pro, there are no limits.
Listen on the go
Just press play and we take care of the words.
Never worry about spotty connections
No Internet access? No problem. Within the mobile app, all your ideas are available, even when offline.
Get Organized with Stashes
Ideas for your next work project? Quotes that inspire you? Put them in the right place so you never lose them.
Start
47 IDEAS
Start
75 IDEAS
My Stashes
Join
2 Million Stashers
4.8
Stars
5,740 Reviews
App Store
4.7
Stars
72,690 Reviews
Google Play
samz905
Don’t look further if you love learning new things. A refreshing concept that provides quick ideas for busy thought leaders.
“
Shankul Varada
Best app ever! You heard it right. This app has helped me get back on my quest to get things done while equipping myself with knowledge everyday.
“
Ashley Anthony
This app is LOADED with RELEVANT, HELPFUL, AND EDUCATIONAL material. It is creatively intellectual, yet minimal enough to not overstimulate and create a learning block. I am exceptionally impressed with this app!
“
Sean Green
Great interesting short snippets of informative articles. Highly recommended to anyone who loves information and lacks patience.
“
Jamyson Haug
Great for quick bits of information and interesting ideas around whatever topics you are interested in. Visually, it looks great as well.
“
Laetitia Berton
I have only been using it for a few days now, but I have found answers to questions I had never consciously formulated, or to problems I face everyday at work or at home. I wish I had found this earlier, highly recommended!
“
Giovanna Scalzone
Brilliant. It feels fresh and encouraging. So many interesting pieces of information that are just enough to absorb and apply. So happy I found this.
“
Ghazala Begum
Even five minutes a day will improve your thinking. I've come across new ideas and learnt to improve existing ways to become more motivated, confident and happier.
“
Read & Learn
20x Faster
without
deepstash
with
deepstash
with
deepstash
Access to 200,000+ ideas
—
Access to the mobile app
—
Unlimited idea saving & library
—
—
Unlimited history
—
—
Unlimited listening to ideas
—
—
Downloading & offline access
—
—
Personalized recommendations
—
—
FAQ
Claim Your Limited Offer
Get Deepstash Pro