The dangers of preconceived judgement:
look beyond stereotypes

People often say “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, and it holds true in many aspects of life. We are all
guilty of making snap judgements about others based on their appearance, actions or even just a brief
encounter. But have you ever wondered why it’s important not to judge someone before getting to know
them? Do you ever consider that?
[5]   Imagine that you are at a party and, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a person with a unique
hairstyle and an outfit that screams “fashion forward”. Your brain, always ready for action, instantly springs
into snap judgement mode. “They must be an avant-garde artist or a fashion model”, it enthusiastically
proclaims. This is thin slice judgement! It refers to the action of making lightning-fast judgements based
on minimal information. An example is when you are at a job interview, and the person in the hot seat
[10]   glances at your handwriting before making a quick assessment of your personality. It sounds ludicrous,
but our brain has a way of magnifying minor details and turning them into grand narratives. As amusing
as it may seem, such judgements can have real-life consequences.
While snap judgements can provide an amusing story to share at parties, they can perpetuate stereotypes,
reinforce biases and limit our ability to see the true beauty in diversity. Instead of jumping to conclusions,
[15]   it’s better to lean into curiosity. Ask questions, seek out diverse perspectives and recognize that everyone
has a unique story to tell. By embracing our inquisitive nature, we can uncover the richness of human
experiences and challenge our own biases.
Empathy is the secret weapon against prejudice. To truly understand someone, you must put yourself in
their shoes and see the world through their eyes. Actually, prejudice is when we form an opinion or make
[20]   assumptions about someone without having all the facts. It’s like trying to write a book review after only
reading the first chapter. We should strive to give people a fair chance before passing judgement. Besides,
it’s essential to remember that nobody is perfect, and we should embrace diversity instead of assuming
we’re always right. Rather than acting as self-appointed judges, we should approach people with empathy
and understanding.
[25]   Practicing self-compassion and recognizing our own imperfections can help us show more compassion
towards others. Harsh judgement can stem from a variety of factors, such as insecurity, fear or simply our
own experiences and biases, but it’s okay, we’ve all been there! What’s important is to take a step back and
reflect on why we are quick to judge. And, if we always do that, it’s time to think outside the box.

PATRICK TURNER
Adaptado de appgecet.co.in.

The dangers of preconceived judgement:
look beyond stereotypes

People often say “Don’t judge a book by its cover”, and it holds true in many aspects of life. We are all
guilty of making snap judgements about others based on their appearance, actions or even just a brief
encounter. But have you ever wondered why it’s important not to judge someone before getting to know
them? Do you ever consider that?
[5]   Imagine that you are at a party and, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a person with a unique
hairstyle and an outfit that screams “fashion forward”. Your brain, always ready for action, instantly springs
into snap judgement mode. “They must be an avant-garde artist or a fashion model”, it enthusiastically
proclaims. This is thin slice judgement! It refers to the action of making lightning-fast judgements based
on minimal information. An example is when you are at a job interview, and the person in the hot seat
[10]   glances at your handwriting before making a quick assessment of your personality. It sounds ludicrous,
but our brain has a way of magnifying minor details and turning them into grand narratives. As amusing
as it may seem, such judgements can have real-life consequences.
While snap judgements can provide an amusing story to share at parties, they can perpetuate stereotypes,
reinforce biases and limit our ability to see the true beauty in diversity. Instead of jumping to conclusions,
[15]   it’s better to lean into curiosity. Ask questions, seek out diverse perspectives and recognize that everyone
has a unique story to tell. By embracing our inquisitive nature, we can uncover the richness of human
experiences and challenge our own biases.
Empathy is the secret weapon against prejudice. To truly understand someone, you must put yourself in
their shoes and see the world through their eyes. Actually, prejudice is when we form an opinion or make
[20]   assumptions about someone without having all the facts. It’s like trying to write a book review after only
reading the first chapter. We should strive to give people a fair chance before passing judgement. Besides,
it’s essential to remember that nobody is perfect, and we should embrace diversity instead of assuming
we’re always right. Rather than acting as self-appointed judges, we should approach people with empathy
and understanding.
[25]   Practicing self-compassion and recognizing our own imperfections can help us show more compassion
towards others. Harsh judgement can stem from a variety of factors, such as insecurity, fear or simply our
own experiences and biases, but it’s okay, we’ve all been there! What’s important is to take a step back and
reflect on why we are quick to judge. And, if we always do that, it’s time to think outside the box.

PATRICK TURNER
Adaptado de appgecet.co.in.

Are wild animals afraid of humans?

Crocodiles, sharks, snakes, tigers, lions are but a few of the animals that evoke a sense of fear in humans.
Attacks by these animals are always widely splashed across the media, giving further merit to these fears.
But are we actually more scared of them than they are of us? And do we perhaps have reason to be?
Wild animals are afraid of humans. Studies have shown that even apex predators change their eating
[5]   patterns and habits when they perceive humans to be around. We are the only super predator that exists
on this planet. Through conditioning, animals have come to instinctually fear our very existence.
In Santa Cruz, California, a study was directed. The scientists wished to determine how much impact
the perception of human presence would have on the predators in the area, namely the mountain lion,
bobcat, opossum and skunk. The scientists broadcasted human voices in certain areas while they used
[10]   the sound of tree frogs in other regions as a control. The results were alarming in that the predators
changed their habits more than expected, when they perceived humans to be present. Mountain lions
would leave their kill if they heard voices and deliberately avoided the areas where they believed there
was human activity. The skunk and opossum foraged less, and the bobcat became solely nocturnal.
Some might suggest that our upright stance and forward-facing eyes have animals understanding that
[15]   we are a predator and a threat, but it is more than just how we look that has them running for the hills.
Through centuries of hunting and destroying their habitat their fear of us has become instinctual. We
are the annihilators, super destroyers of the earth and its wildlife. We have taught animals that we are the
most destructive and deadly species on the planet and this conditioned them to fear us.
The human population kills nine times as many carnivores as they kill each other and four times more
[20]   middle food web animals than large carnivores do. We are one of the few animals capable of distorting
ecosystem functioning and eradicating species. In most scenarios, the mere presence of a human will
have wild animals darting away. Even in some extreme situations where animals show aggression, if
humans stand their ground and make noise, the result is often the animal showing one final act of
defiance before they move off back into their natural habitat.
[25]   But although wild animals will choose to run away most of the time, rather than standing against or going
after us, this is not always the case. A threatened animal will fight against us to defend itself, and chances
are you, with your lack of claws, blunt teeth and squishy body, will come off second best. Despite our
destructive behavior, an unarmed human has almost no defense against an animal. Fear incites violence
and animals will react aggressively if they feel threatened. We might be the mighty super predator, but
[30]   ultimately we are no match for Mother Nature when she chooses to fight back.

Adaptado de nayturr.com.