The Observing Eye is Stronger, Part 2 - Overcome Cognitive Biases 🧠
The Pen and Sword Journal - Vol 65
Hey there, friend!
How’s your week going? Are you finding moments to stay grounded and take in life’s unexpected twists? I hope you’re surrounded by people who bring out the best in you, easing any struggles and enriching your life! 🙏
Today’s article is a follow-up to our last one, titled "M. Musashi - The Observing Eye is Stronger than the Seeing Eye" (if you missed it, give that a read first—it’ll set the stage for what we’re diving into here).
Today, we will delve deeper and broaden our understanding of the "Seeing Eye" and the "Observing Eye" concepts. And to do that, we will start by touching on something critical to this topic: Mental Heuristics. For those unfamiliar, mental heuristics are shortcuts or patterns our minds use to interpret information quickly, an automatic response designed to save mental energy. Understanding these heuristics is the first step in moving beyond automatic reactions and training ourselves to see with depth and clarity. This habit of quick judgment is the main contributor to what we call the "Seeing Eye"—a kind of surface-level perception.
But there’s another force at play that strengthens the Seeing Eye: Confirmation Biases. These biases tend to occur when we unconsciously favor information that aligns with our existing beliefs or insecurities. In essence, they’re born from our inner uncertainties and can prevent us from seeing things clearly. Awareness is the antidote here, and it’s exactly what today’s article is about.
Think of the combination of these two as the “Seeing Eye” at work—helpful for surface-level understanding, but often missing the deeper layers.
Let’s dive in some of the manifestations of the “Seeing Eye”.
Seeing beyond the surface - Gaining a deeper understanding
1. Confirmation Bias This bias drives us to seek, interpret, and remember information that confirms our existing beliefs, while ignoring evidence that contradicts them.
Some examples that come int my mind:
There was someone at a Muay Thai gym I trained for a while who absolutely loved his high kick. He was convinced it was his signature move, practically unstoppable. Every time it landed during sparring, you could see his confidence surge. But what he didn’t seem to notice were those moments when quicker opponents would slip past it and counter, finding holes in his defense. He ignored any feedback about these gaps, thinking that his kick was untouchable. In the end, his attachment to this one move became his Achilles’ heel, just because he couldn’t see beyond what confirmed his own belief.
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine was convinced his girlfriend was too focused on herself. He noticed every moment she got absorbed in her work, quietly tallying them as evidence of her self-centeredness. What he didn’t realize, though, was that she went out of her way to do small things for him, like remembering his favorite drink or surprising him with little treats. His bias was so strong that he dismissed these as outliers. Eventually, his narrow perspective created cracks in the relationship, all because he only saw what aligned with his initial assumption, which in reality was a manifestation of his insecurity.
2. Hindsight Bias
Definition: After an event occurs, we often believe we “knew it all along,” which can distort learning from real experiences.
Another example that come to my mind during a kickboxing competition. After one of our fighter’s matches, he couldn’t stop talking about how he “knew” his opponent would go for that sneaky uppercut. In reality, during the fight, he didn’t react to it, but after the match, he genuinely believed he had seen it coming. To me it seemed like his hindsight bias made him feel like he’d predicted the move all along, even though it was just a reconstructed memory. Instead of reviewing his mistakes to learn and grow, he fell into the trap of hindsight, walking away from his challenge without actually addressing his own weaknesses.
3. Anchoring Bias
Definition: The first piece of information we receive often influences our perception, even if other data might be more relevant.
After World War I, when France proposed a high reparation demand from Germany, that initial number stuck in everyone’s minds. It became the anchor for the entire negotiation process, even when others raised concerns about the long-term impact of such harsh terms. The anchoring bias kept negotiators from reassessing the demand, leading to a treaty that would haunt Europe for years to come.
At a family reunion, one of my cousins mentioned that a new family friend was “kind of aloof.” Just hearing that, I started paying extra attention to any signs of coldness, subconsciously filtering everything he did through that label. Even when he made an effort to connect, I kept my distance. Looking back, I realized I had let that small comment anchor my whole impression of him, ignoring all the signals that might’ve led me to a different conclusion.
4. Misinformation Effect
Definition: Our memories can be altered by incorrect information, making it difficult to accurately recall events.
A typical example of this, which I have experienced as well, is that of siblings arguing about an incident from years ago, each convinced of a slightly different version of the story. One sibling remembers it as a misunderstanding, but the other recalls a clear slight, reinforced by a third family member’s offhand comment. The true events are lost, shaped by layers of misinformation and new interpretations over time.
Another example: In World War II, propaganda on both sides deliberately altered public memory of key battles, creating heroic or villainous versions of events that didn’t match reality. These altered memories endured, shaping the collective understanding of history in ways that would impact diplomacy for generations.
5. Availability Heuristic
Definition: We tend to overestimate the importance of information that is easy to recall.
There is an interesting example that I caught myself doing a few times as I started training martial arts in my teenage years. After a recent sparring session where I was knocked down by a high kick, shortly after that I became obsessed with training against leg kicks, convinced I would face them constantly. Surely, I would have to deal with a high kick like that again, but my focus was beyond normal, to the extent that it altered my expectations. That one incident loomed large, shaped my training priorities, even though the majority of opponents focus on different strategies. The availability heuristic distorted the importance of a single experience, consuming time I would have better spent on balanced training.
6. Endowment Effect
Definition: We assign more value to things simply because they belong to us.
In family settings, the endowment effect often appears when members cling to heirlooms, attaching outsized sentimental value simply because they “belong to the family.” This effect can lead to unnecessary disputes over items that hold more emotional than practical value.
Who knows how many times I have seen fighters or players in various sports like football, soccer, etc. be attached to their own distinct technique—an unusual footwork style, for instance—even when coaches suggest it’s slowing them down. The mere fact it’s “their” move makes it harder to let go, overvaluing it despite the obvious drawbacks.
While it is wise to develop our unique style, at the same time we must be objective to change what doesn’t work, even though it makes us feel positive emotions.
7. Sunk Cost Fallacy
Definition: We continue investing in a situation because we’ve already invested a lot, even when it’s irrational, and unwise to keep going.
Some forms of the Sunk Cost Fallacy, are when people spend quite some time in a specific training regimen, only to realize it’s not yielding results. Yet they can’t bear to switch approaches, thinking, “I’ve already put too much into this to quit now.” The sunk cost fallacy traps them in ineffective routines, hindering progress because of past investment.
Or, in relationships, someone might stay in a toxic and damaging partnership, telling themselves, “We’ve been together too long to just walk away now,” despite growing unhappiness. The fear of “wasting” past years holds them back from seeking healthier connections.
8. Groupthink
Definition: The desire for group harmony can lead people to make irrational or harmful decisions.
Example: In a cult-like gym where everyone favors a particular fighting style, like for intstance the aggressive brawler style, just because the head-coach prefers that over others, newer fighters may feel pressured to adopt it, even if it doesn’t suit their strengths. Of course, this happens when that coaches reproductive instinct has mutated into an unhealthy psychological mechanism, trying to mold his students according to what he thinks is the best way subjectively. As a consequence, when some is still inexperienced, and has not cultivated a strong will, the desire for unity leads to conformity, potentially sacrificing individuality in favor of group cohesion.
9. Fundamental Attribution Error
Definition: We often attribute other’s actions to their character in an exaggerated way, rather than situational factors.
Example: In family interactions, it’s common to blame a member’s irritation on their personality (“They’re just like that”) rather than considering they may be dealing with stress or personal challenges.
If a kid receives this kind of treatment from their parents or caregivers continuously, they risk adopting this as a belief, which might impact their self-perception in the years to come.
10. Self-Serving Bias
Definition: We attribute our successes to our abilities and our failures to external circumstances.
Example: After a successful match, fighters and sport practitioners attribute the win to their hard work and talent, but after a loss, they blame it on the referee’s calls. Surely, while this can certainly occur, it's unlikely to happen consistently every time… In reality, the self-serving bias shields their ego, helping them take credit for wins while sidestepping responsibility for losses.
Another relationship destroyer pattern I have seen often: After an argument, one partner may feel justified, thinking they kept calm while the other “overreacted.” The self-serving bias allows them to see themselves in a positive light, overlooking their own role in the conflict.
If someone fails to reflect and become aware of this, they risk forming a solid shell that blinds them to valuable insights and sabotages opportunities and relationships.
11. The “Curse” of Knowledge
Definition: We assume that others know what we know, leading to poor communication.
The Curse of Knowledge is one of those biases that creeps in as soon as we become experts in something. It’s the assumption that what we know is obvious to everyone else, and it often leads to a gap in how we communicate. At times, because we’re so close to our own knowledge, we sometimes forget how much we had to learn to reach that level of understanding.
I’ve noticed this a lot when watching people coach beginners. Surprisingly often, senior students can sometimes teach certain foundational skills more effectively than advanced instructors. This doesn’t mean experienced teachers lack value—many genuinely have the skill and passion for teaching—but it highlights a real difference: some people can be fantastic athletes, martial artists, or professionals, yet still struggle to teach what they know. I go into more detail on this idea in this article, titled “Why not everyone can be a good Teacher”.
Some advanced instructors struggle to teach beginners effectively, not only because they lack passion or dedication, but also because they fall into the mental trap known as the "curse of knowledge." After so many years of practice, they may have forgotten what it truly feels like to be a beginner and might overlook the specific guidance that beginners need. On the other hand, senior students, who have been training for a shorter period, often have their own early experiences fresh in mind. This allows them to connect with and understand beginners more easily, making it simpler for them to empathize and offer clear guidance.
However, there are also practitioners who, even after decades of training, maintain a deep connection with "Shoshin"—a Beginner’s Mind. These individuals not only excel in their discipline but also genuinely love passing on their knowledge to newcomers. Such people are both highly skilled professionals and exceptional teachers, as they stay rooted in empathy and enthusiasm for teaching regardless of how may decades they’ve practiced.
Other examples to illustrate the idea.
Think of a parent teaching a child how to do something as “simple” as tying shoelaces. For an adult, it’s a routine task, so they say, “Just make a loop and pull.” But for the child, who is learning how to coordinate fingers and keep track of multiple steps, it’s overwhelming. The parent’s shortcut explanation skips over the smaller steps because they’ve forgotten how foreign those movements once felt. The child, in turn, can feel clumsy or discouraged, all because of this natural but unintentional knowledge gap.
During World War II, some codebreakers worked on highly classified messages. But once these experts grasped the language of codebreaking, they sometimes struggled to explain their methods to military leaders who needed simple, actionable insights—not the technical jargon or complex steps of the process. Their knowledge became almost a barrier to communication, delaying decisions that depended on breaking down these complex messages into understandable, actionable plans.
12. Actor-Observer Bias
Definition: We explain our own behavior based on external factors but attribute others’ behavior to internal traits.
The Actor-Observer Bias creates a strange double standard in how people interpret actions: they’re often quick to attribute their own behaviors to external factors, but for others, they tend to point to internal traits. This bias can lead to misunderstandings and a lack of empathy because they become oblivious to how much context affects us all.
Consider a couple where one partner arrives late for a dinner. The latecomer might explain, “There was unexpected traffic.” They naturally think of the situational factors that affected them. But if their partner shows up late another time, they might find themselves thinking, “They’re always late—they must just not value my time.” The Actor-Observer Bias kicks in, making it easy to empathize with their own situation while jumping to conclusions about the other’s character. This bias, if left unchecked, can create small misunderstandings that build into larger conflicts, simply because they don’t see how external factors play a role for everyone, not just themselves.
In World War I, soldiers who showed bravery were often considered naturally courageous, while those who retreated under intense fire were sometimes labeled cowards. Yet, if we could talk to those soldiers themselves, many of them might say that bravery came from their squad’s support or a clear sense of purpose, while fear rose from exhaustion, isolation, or lack of resources. From the outside, it’s easy to judge, but understanding those situational pressures reveals the shared humanity within both “heroes” and “retreaters.”
To conclude
All of these are mental mechanisms that affect everyone to some degree. At their core, they help us conserve mental energy and protect our egos from pain, which can laso lead to anxiety. But when left unchecked, these biases can become ingrained, shaping our character and limiting our awareness, keeping us from truly understanding ourselves and the world around us.
This is why, not just for warriors and martial artists, but for anyone on a path of self-mastery, it’s essential to train the mind to see beyond appearances and illusions. The Samurai often used the phrase "Ichi-Gan" or "First Eyes," referring not to physical sight but to the mind’s ability to perceive truth beyond the surface.
These biases show how our brains use shortcuts that can obscure reality. By becoming aware of them, we can move from simply "seeing" to truly "observing," cultivating a deeper and more accurate understanding of life.
Next week, in the final part of the Observing Eye series, we’ll dive into practical psychological exercises to strengthen what Musashi called the "Observing Eye," enabling us to see beyond mere appearances.
Stay tuned, and enjoy your weekend! 👊🙏
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