Ladder of inference

Ladder of inference

1. What is it?

   • It gives insight into the steps that occur within our brains from the moment we perceive something to the moment we start action
   • It describes the way our mental models are unconsiously formed as well as what and how we see things
   • It just takes a fraction of a second meaning our responses are unconscious

2. Self-fulfillinig prophecies

   • It is a psychological concept in which a belief or expectation affects a person’s behavior in a way that causes the belief to become true.
     • If you expect everything to go wrong, you might put in less effort or fail to take steps that could turn things around, which means that expecting the worst brings out the worst.

3. Avoid jumping to conclusions

   • If we want to avoid jumping to conclusions we must have these 3 steps in mind when we differ with someone:
     • 1. Be aware of your own limitations: Be aware that every person selectively filters their own experiences and we all have blind spots.
     • 2. Question your assumptions (and the assumptions of others): Try to get into the habit of asking yourself: “Am I missing anything here?” Ask others to explain their assumptions.
     • 3. Make your thinking explicit: Try to make your thinking explicit, especially in challenging situations where there may be conflict over differing conclusions.

4. Relation with others

   • By improving how you interpret situations, communicate, and respond to others' behavior. It helps you avoid misunderstandings, challenge assumptions, and engage more thoughtfully in interactions, leading to healthier and more productive relationships.

5. Self-motivation

   • Simply by paying more attention and being more conscious of the things we do in our daily routine, for example thinking what do we do that discourages us instead of motivating us, and then analizing how can we change that using the ladder of inference.

6. 7 steps of ladder

   • 7. Action based on our beliefs
   • 6. Adjustment of beliefs of situation or context
   • 5. Conclusions and emotional reactions based on interpretations & assumptions
   • 4. Development of assumptions based on interpretation
   • 3. Interpretation and meaning of observations
   • 2. Filtering of reality based on beliefs and experiences
   • 1. Experience and observation of reality