Proximity Bias – StockViz

Where an idea comes from seems to influence whether or not people think something’s a good idea. The further away that an idea comes from, the better people think that it is. Our brains are wired to assume that ideas that come from nearby are more concrete so they’re not considered as creative as the more abstract concepts that come from further away.

We are also eager to take advice from someone that sounds intelligent on TV or in an article, without vetting their predictions or doing our own research before making a purchase or sale.

Uncertainty makes people anxious and uncomfortable so we are willing to listen to those that claim they can predict the future to alleviate that tension. No one knows for sure what’s going to happen tomorrow, but it makes us feel better to believe that someone can forecast the future to make us feel better.

Source: Why We Miss Creative Ideas That Are Right Under Our Noses