Research and Commentary
Why Our Brains Miss Opportunities to Improve through Subtraction
In a new paper featured on the cover of Nature, Batten’s Gabrielle Adams, Benjamin Converse and co-authors explain why people systematically overlook subtractive improvements.
In a new paper featured on the cover of Nature, Batten’s Gabrielle Adams, Benjamin Converse and co-authors explain why people systematically overlook subtractive improvements.
Nature video, may be viewed here. Please continue to visit this page as new articles covering the paper’s findings are added.
- Ars Technica, “When asked to fix something, we don’t even think of removing parts“
- Behavioral Scientist, “Subtract: Why Getting to Less Can Mean Thinking More“
- CBC Radio, “When solving life’s problems, people tend to add even when it’s easier to subtract: study“
- Dagens Nyheter, “That’s why it’s so hard to be a minimalist“
- Daily Mail, “Less is more! People tend to add extra elements when asked to improve objects, ideas and situations – but removing them is actually more effective, study finds“
- The Economist, “Why people forget that less is often more“
- Forbes, “Business Leaders Often Overlook This Brilliant Problem-Solving Strategy When Making Career Decisions“
- Inverse, “You need to start using this psychology-based productivity hack“
- Science News, “People add by default even when subtraction makes more sense“
- Scientific American, “Our Brain Typically Overlooks This Brilliant Problem-Solving Strategy“
- Texas News Today, “It’s better to have less! Scientists say the human brain is having a hard time subtracting“
- UVA Today, “When It Comes to Problem-Solving, New UVA Study Finds That Less Is More“
- The Wall Street Journal, “How to Keep Your Cool When Markets Are Sizzling“
- Washington Post, “Humans solve problems by adding complexity, even when it’s against our best interests“
- ZME Science, “Our brain is hard-wired to make life more complicated rather than simple. Here’s a simple lifehack“
