Instinct 1 of 10
The Gap Instinct
The tendency to divide things into two distinct groups with an imagined gap between them.
Understanding The Gap Instinct
The Gap Instinct is our tendency to divide things into two distinct and often conflicting groups, with an imagined gap—a huge chasm of injustice—in between. We love to dichotomize: rich vs. poor, us vs. them, good vs. evil. This instinct creates a distorted view of reality where the middle ground disappears.
How It Distorts Your Thinking
This instinct makes us believe the world is divided into two groups with nothing in between. We imagine that most people are either in one extreme group or the other, when in reality, the vast majority are usually somewhere in the middle.
Real-World Examples
- 1
Believing the world is split into 'developed' and 'developing' nations, missing the continuous spectrum of progress
- 2
Viewing political discourse as purely 'left vs. right' without recognizing the nuanced positions most people hold
- 3
Assuming income distribution is bimodal (rich and poor) when it's actually a continuous curve with most people in the middle
How Veremet Helps
We show data distributions and spectrums, not binary 'us vs. them' narratives. Our Consensus Gauge visualizes the full spectrum of evidence, revealing the nuanced middle ground that the Gap Instinct makes us miss.
Practice Exercises
Use these exercises to recognize and counteract The Gap Instinct in your daily life:
When you encounter a claim that divides the world into two groups, ask: What percentage is actually in each group?
Look for the overlapping middle ground in any 'us vs. them' narrative
Practice viewing issues on a spectrum rather than as binary oppositions