Everyone generalizes too much

We cannot avoid generalizing, but we sometimes get it wrong (and even if we get it right, we may be making a faux pas)

One of our superpowers is that we can make assumptions about something or someone we have never encountered before. Based on certain observed, or known, characteristics, we expect other characteristics to be present too. We almost literally fill in the blanks, by generalizing the co-existence of two different traits: if we see X, and we have seen before X in conjunction with Y, then Y will be there too. We do not, however, apply this only when it is correct to do so. And sometimes, even if our generalization is justified, we might find ourselves in trouble.

Generalization makes it easy

Our brain is a powerful instrument, but it has its limits. If it had to interpret the constant stream of input from just our eyes (each eye has the equivalent of 130 megapixels) it would probably promptly overheat. What it does instead is guess wat our eyes might be seeing (it will almost always be pretty much the same as what we were seeing a few hundredths of a second ago), and only concern itself with what is different. Something similar appears to take place at a much higher cognitive level. If we see a house that we have never seen before, we…