Бесплатный фрагмент - Workshop of Thinking

Workshop of Thinking: Advanced Techniques of Thinking and Personal Development. Part 2

Annotation

Welcome to the second part of our exciting journey into the world of effective thinking! If the first book opened the doors for you to the amazing world of cognitive techniques, this part invites you to dive even deeper, exploring advanced methodologies that can transform your thinking and life.

In this book, we will examine twelve powerful tools for mind development, from systems thinking to financial literacy, from combat NLP to lucid dreaming. Each chapter is not just theory, but a practical guide filled with real examples and exercises that you can apply immediately.

You will learn to manage your time with incredible efficiency, master the art of strategic planning through game theory, discover the secrets of mentalism and influencing people. We will also present you with three unique proprietary methodologies, including the “Legion” technique for creating autonomous mental agents, the prismatic thinking strategy for optimizing business processes, and the theory of self-similarity for accelerated learning and achieving mastery in any field.

This book is not just a set of techniques, it’s a key to unlocking your full potential. Are you ready to take the next step in developing your mind?

Introduction

Dear reader!

Before you is the second part of our large-scale project on thinking development and personal growth. If the first book was your guide to the world of basic but powerful effective thinking techniques, this part invites you to rise to a new level.

In the first book, we got acquainted with such fundamental concepts as TRIZ, critical thinking, NLP, creative thinking, and others. We saw how these tools can transform our perception of the world and ability to solve problems. Now it’s time to move forward.

In this book, we will delve into more complex and deep techniques that will not only expand your cognitive abilities but also open new horizons for personal and professional growth. We will consider twelve advanced methodologies, each of which can significantly influence various aspects of your life:

— Mentalism: The Art of Managing Attention and Perception

— Game Theory: Strategic Thinking in Action

— The Art of Effective Learning: From Rapid Information Assimilation to Thinking Transformation

— Stratagems: Ancient Chinese Art of Strategic Thinking

— Combat NLP and Manipulations: A Powerful Tool for Influence and Self-Defense

— Time Management: The Art of Managing Time

— Simplified Foreign Language Learning

— Mastering Lucid Dreams: A Transformative Journey

— Financial Literacy: The Path to Financial Freedom and Prosperity

— Healing Through Consciousness: Unlocking the Body’s Inner Powers

— Enhancing Human Abilities Through Consciousness

— Author’s Methodologies

Appendix: Recommended Literature for In-Depth Study

In addition, we will present you with three unique proprietary methodologies:

— “Legion” — a technique for creating autonomous mental agents

— Prismatic thinking strategy — for creating new business models and optimizing business

— Theory of self-similarity — for deep understanding of any process and accelerated learning

Each chapter of this book is structured not only to give you a theoretical understanding of the method but also to provide practical tools for its immediate application. You will find real examples, exercises, and techniques that can be used in everyday life and professional activities.

Our goal is not just to expand your knowledge, but to give you the opportunity to truly transform your thinking and life. We believe that every person has enormous potential, and our task is to help you unlock it fully.

Remember that studying these techniques is not just reading, it’s an active process. Experiment, try, apply the knowledge gained in practice. Only in this way will you be able to truly master these powerful tools and make them part of your life.

Are you ready for this exciting journey into the world of advanced thinking? Then turn the page and let’s begin!

Mentalism: The Art of Managing Attention and Perception

Mentalism is an art form within the realm of illusion and psychology, where the main actor, the mentalist, demonstrates extraordinary abilities such as mind reading, clairvoyance, telepathy, and other paranormal phenomena. In reality, a mentalist is a skilled psychologist and master of attention management who cleverly uses the peculiarities of human perception and thinking.

The history of mentalism goes back to ancient times when shamans and priests used psychological techniques to influence people. However, as a separate direction, mentalism took shape in the 19th century when the first professional mentalists appeared on stage. Since then, this art has been constantly developing, incorporating achievements in psychology, neurobiology, and other sciences about the human brain.

What is mentalism used for?

Mentalism is used in various spheres:

— Entertainment — stage performances, TV shows, corporate events.

— Psychology — improving communication skills, understanding non-verbal signals.

— Business — negotiations, sales, personnel management.

— Personal development — improving memory, concentration, intuition.

— Therapy — helping people overcome psychological barriers.

Imagine that your mind is a huge theater. The mentalist is a magician who knows all the secret passages in this theater. He can make you look at one stage while something interesting is happening behind the scenes. Or he can so skillfully manage light and sound that you see something that isn’t really there. Mentalism is the art of being a director in the theater of someone else’s mind.

Mentalism is an amazing art that combines elements of stage performance and a deep understanding of human psychology. The main actor in this art is the mentalist, who demonstrates astonishing abilities that seem supernatural: clairvoyance, mind reading, incredible memory, hypnosis, telepathy, and other “magical” skills.

In fact, a mentalist is a skilled psychologist and master of mind manipulation. He knows how to use the peculiarities of our perception in such a way that we begin to see reality not as it really is. The mentalist virtuously manages the attention of the audience, concentrating it on the necessary moments and distracting from what should remain unnoticed.

Mentalists have a deep understanding of human nature and excellent observation skills. They are able to quickly and accurately determine a person’s character, their weaknesses and strengths, which allows them to effectively influence people’s consciousness. These amazing abilities often create the impression that mentalists have paranormal powers, although in reality all their tricks are based on a deep knowledge of psychology and honed mastery.

Interestingly, some mentalists openly admit that their abilities are the result of studying psychology and practice, not a supernatural gift. However, even in this case, many people continue to believe that mentalists are simply hiding their true paranormal abilities. In essence, mentalists are virtuosos of psychological influence, using various techniques to manipulate the consciousness of spectators.

One of the most famous modern mentalists is Derren Brown. His shows and experiments amaze the imagination and make one think about the boundaries of human mind capabilities. Brown conducts both large-scale performances for the general public and carefully planned experiments involving random people, which are then broadcast on the internet.

Brown’s experiments demonstrate the amazing power of suggestion and mind manipulation. For example, he was able to make a person commit a “murder” using a toy gun, or convince an innocent person that they had committed a crime, after which they voluntarily went to the police with a confession. Brown also demonstrated how to awaken a heroic spirit in people, making them perform brave acts, or how to use placebo to rid a person of phobias and even cure some diseases.

These experiments are so unusual and impressive that it sometimes seems as if it’s just a setup or deception. However, these are real demonstrations of the power of the human mind and the possibilities of psychological influence, which can be repeated given the necessary skills and resources.

In this chapter, we will look at how suggestion affects our body and mind, and how deceptive our perception of the surrounding world can be. After studying this material, you will be able not only to demonstrate impressive tricks but also to better understand the possibilities of your own consciousness. Perhaps you will find ways to apply this knowledge in everyday life, which will help you better understand people and situations around you.

How mentalism works — a generalized algorithm

— Observation: The mentalist carefully studies a person’s behavior, speech, and non-verbal signals.

— Analysis: Based on observations, conclusions are drawn about the person’s personality, thoughts, and emotions.

— Attention manipulation: Various techniques are used to distract attention or concentrate it on certain things.

— Suggestion: Methods of verbal and non-verbal suggestion are applied to create certain thoughts or sensations.

— Demonstration of the “effect”: The mentalist shows a result that seems impossible or supernatural.

— Reinforcement of the impression: Psychological techniques are used to enhance the effect and create a long-term impression.

Where can mentalism be used

— In everyday life: improving communication with people, understanding their true intentions, developing intuition.

— In business: conducting more effective negotiations, improving sales skills, better understanding customer needs.

— In science: studying the work of the human brain, studying attention and perception processes.

— In education: creating more effective teaching methods, improving information memorization.

— In art: creating more impressive performances and shows.

Basic tools for beginners:

— Cold reading: a technique that creates the impression that you know more about a person than you actually do.

— Attention management: methods of distracting attention and concentrating it on necessary objects.

— Non-verbal communication: understanding and using body language.

— Mnemonic techniques: methods for improving memory.

— Suggestions: techniques of verbal and non-verbal suggestion.

Ice and burns: The power of mind over body

Body and mind are parts of a single system, closely connected to each other. What we imagine in our consciousness can have a real impact on our body and even on events in our life. Although this idea is often found in popular literature and can be perceived skeptically as something esoteric or paranormal, in fact, it has serious scientific foundations.

Many of us tend to reject the idea that our consciousness can so strongly influence reality. It’s hard for us to believe that a simple desire can lead to changes in our life or that by the power of thought we can influence processes in our own body — for example, accelerate healing, regulate body temperature, or even heal wounds. However, there are experiments demonstrating the amazing capabilities of our mind in this area.

One such experiment, although controversial from an ethical point of view, clearly shows the power of suggestion and perception. The essence of the experiment is as follows:

— Unobtrusively and unexpectedly touch an open area of skin of a familiar person with a piece of ice.

— At the moment of contact, loudly warn about danger, for example, by shouting “Careful, it’s hot!”

— Simultaneously show the person a supposedly hot object (for example, a soldering iron or a hot spoon) that you have prepared in advance.

The result of this experiment can be astonishing: despite the fact that a cold object was touching the skin, a person can feel a burn and even show physical signs of a burn on the skin.

This effect is explained by the fact that at the moment of unexpected touch, our brain can be disoriented and easily succumbs to suggestion. The sensations from cold and hot on the skin can be similar, especially at the first moment of contact. When we put our hands in very cold water, we often feel a burning sensation similar to the sensation of hot water at first. This uncertainty, combined with a sudden warning of danger and visual confirmation (the sight of a “hot” object), can make the brain interpret the sensation as a burn.

It’s important to note that conducting such experiments without a person’s consent is unethical and potentially dangerous. However, the very fact that such an effect is possible opens our eyes to the amazing abilities of our brain and body.

Just think: if our body is capable of creating physical signs of a burn in seconds without any real tissue damage, what other amazing abilities does it possess? If used correctly, the power of suggestion can not only create the illusion of a burn but also “remove” it by explaining to the person that it was only in their imagination.

This experiment raises important questions for us: Why are we so limited in our understanding of the capabilities of our body? If the brain can create such a complex reaction as a burn so quickly, what prevents it from using these same mechanisms to strengthen immunity or accelerate wound healing?

Projecting this experience onto our daily life, we can wonder: what else is our brain capable of creating if it possesses such power? How can we use this power to improve our health, achieve goals, and overcome obstacles?

Tricks and illusions of mentalism

In this chapter, we will look at several interesting tricks and illusions used by mentalists. First, I will present you with a description of the trick in the form of a question, and then give a detailed explanation of how to perform it.

— Three envelopes

Question: How to guess which of the three envelopes contains money if you can open only one?

Answer: This trick is based on the psychology of decision-making and probability. Here’s how to perform it:

— Prepare three envelopes, put money in one of them.

— Ask the viewer to choose one envelope, but not to open it.

— Open one of the remaining two envelopes, which is definitely empty.

— Offer the viewer to change their choice.

The secret is that the probability of winning when changing the choice increases to 2/3. This is because the initial probability of choosing an empty envelope was 2/3, and by opening one empty envelope, you didn’t change this probability. Thus, the chance that the money is in the unopened unchosen envelope is higher.

— Popular associations

Question: How to “guess” the most likely associations of people?

Answer: This trick is based on statistical data and common cultural associations. Here are some popular pairs:

— Numbers: 3 and 7

— Colors: red and black

— Cards: Queen of Hearts and Ace of Spades

— Geometric shapes: triangle inscribed in a circle

To use this trick:

— Ask the person to quickly name the first thing that comes to mind in a certain category.

— Use these statistically probable answers for “guessing”.

— If you guessed — great, if not — say that it was the second most likely answer.

— Three options technique

Question: How to influence a person’s choice by offering three options?

Answer: This is a psychological technique used in marketing and sales. Here’s how it works:

— Offer three options: cheap, expensive, and medium.

— Make the medium option the most attractive.

— Add something insignificant to the expensive option to make it seem more profitable than the medium one.

Example:

— Online course: 59 euros

— Printed materials: 125 euros

— Printed materials + online course: 125 euros

Most people will choose the third option, as it seems the most profitable.

— Brick with an inscription

Question: How to make a person forget their name using visualization?

Answer: This trick is based on concentration of attention and overload of short-term memory. Here’s how to perform it:

— Ask the person to imagine a brick with the word “brick” written on it.

— Say that they need to be sure that it says exactly “brick”.

— Explain that the only way to be sure is to constantly read this word.

— After a few minutes of such concentration, ask the person’s name.

Often, a person cannot immediately remember their name due to overload of short-term memory and strong concentration on one word.

— Disrupting automatic actions

Question: How to make a person think about simple actions?

Answer: This technique is based on disrupting automatism. Here’s how to apply it:

— Ask the person to perform a simple action, for example, tie shoelaces.

— During the performance, ask: “How are you doing this?”

— The person will start thinking about the process and may get confused.

This technique shows how many actions we perform automatically, without thinking. Very useful if you want to cheat in some competition — tell this to a professional and their mistakes will increase many times.

— Guessing the hand with the object

Question: How to guess in which hand a person is holding an object?

Answer: This trick is based on physiological changes. Here’s how to perform it:

— Ask the person to take a small object in one hand and put it to their forehead for 10 seconds while your eyes are closed.

— Then let them extend their hands forward.

— The hand that had the object will be whiter due to blood outflow.

In all tricks, it’s very important to create distracting elements. When you ask the viewer to raise their hand, tell them that they should send a signal directly from the brain to this hand, visualize it. This will help distract attention and add additional elements that the viewer will think about both during the trick and when trying to solve it. They will think that your words have some “magical meaning”.

Alternative method:

— Ask the person to clench a coin in their fist behind their back.

— When they show their hands, pay attention to:

— The direction of the nose (often points to the hand with the coin)

— More tense fist

— Lighter skin around the knuckles

— Using life stages

Question: How to use knowledge about life stages to create the effect of “mind reading”?

Answer: This technique is based on common psychological characteristics of people of different ages. Here’s how to apply it:

— Determine the approximate age of the person.

— Use general statements characteristic of this age.

Examples: For young people: “You feel that the whole world is open to you, but sometimes you doubt your path?” For middle-aged people: “Do you wonder what happened to your youthful dreams? Sometimes you want to go back to the past and change something?” For older generation: “Do you feel that your experience and wisdom are not always valued properly?”

These techniques demonstrate how mentalists use psychology, statistics, and observation to create the impression of supernatural abilities. It’s important to remember that these tricks should be used ethically and only for entertainment.

A story about mentalism, based on an interview with Derren Brown

Mentalism is an art that combines elements of psychology, illusionism, and acute observation. The key technique of mentalism is “cold reading” — the ability to create the impression that you know much more about a person than you actually do, without having any supernatural abilities.

Cold reading is based on the use of a number of psychological techniques and linguistic tricks. One of the main tools is the Barnum effect, named after circus entrepreneur P.T. Barnum. The essence of the effect is that people tend to accept general, vague descriptions of personality as accurate and specific characteristics relating specifically to them. For example, the phrase “You keep people at a certain distance, but you are a caring person” can seem like an accurate description to almost anyone.

Another important technique is the use of “branching” statements. The mentalist starts with a general statement, and then, based on the person’s reaction, develops it in one direction or another. For example: “I feel that you have quite an explosive temper”. If the person agrees, the mentalist continues in the same vein. If they deny it, you can say: “You’ve learned to control your emotions, but inside you know that something can set you off”.

Mentalism also actively uses observation and the ability to “read” non-verbal signals. Often mentalists start with very general statements, and then, observing the person’s reaction, clarify and concretize their statements.

It’s important to understand that most successful mentalists are well aware of what they are doing. These are not psychics or mediums, but rather skilled psychologists and illusionists. However, some practicing mentalism actually believe in their paranormal abilities, which is often the result of self-deception.

The industry of mentalism and mediumship has existed for a long time, but in recent years it has received a new impetus thanks to television and the internet. Shows featuring mentalists and mediums are very popular, despite their dubious credibility.

Critics of mentalism, such as illusionist James Randi, have repeatedly exposed the tricks of mentalists. However, many people continue to believe in paranormal abilities even after exposures, which speaks to the power of psychological impact of these techniques.

It’s important to note that the use of mentalism techniques can have ethical consequences. Some people, especially those who have recently experienced loss of loved ones, may become emotionally dependent on “communicating” with the deceased through mediums. This can hinder the normal process of grieving and accepting loss.

Nevertheless, the skills used in mentalism can be useful in everyday life. The ability to “read” people, understand non-verbal signals, and communicate effectively can be useful in various professional and personal situations.

In conclusion, it’s worth noting that critical thinking and skepticism are important tools when encountering claims of paranormal abilities. As Derren Brown notes, having broad views means being informed and making the right decisions, not blindly believing in everything supernatural.

Self-igniting candle

This amazing trick creates the illusion that a candle lights itself, without a visible source of fire, making a strong impression on the audience.

The essence of the trick: The mentalist places an ordinary-looking candle in front of the audience. He makes several “magical” passes over the candle, possibly uttering some “spells”, and after a while the candle wick lights itself, as if from an invisible flame.

The secret: The trick is based on a chemical self-ignition reaction. Before the performance, the candle wick is treated with a special composition containing a substance with a very low ignition temperature (usually white phosphorus is used). When the composition dries, the substance begins to slowly react with oxygen in the air, gradually heating up. After some time, the temperature reaches the ignition point, and the wick lights up.

Impression on the audience: This trick makes a strong impression on viewers, as it creates the illusion of controlling fire by the power of thought or with the help of “magic”. The spontaneous ignition of the candle seems inexplicable and mystical, especially when it happens after the mentalist’s “magical” actions.

Important notes:

— This trick is extremely dangerous and should only be performed by professionals under controlled conditions.

— The use of dangerous chemicals requires special knowledge and precautions.

— For public performances, safe alternatives that create a similar effect are usually used.

This case demonstrates how knowledge of chemistry and skillful presentation can create the impression of supernatural abilities, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking and understanding of science in assessing seemingly inexplicable phenomena.

Alternative options: For a safer demonstration of a similar effect, less dangerous chemical substances or special “magic” candles sold in magic shops can be used. These alternatives, although less impressive, allow creating a similar effect without risk to health and safety.

Step-by-step example of using mentalism methods

Suppose you want to demonstrate “mind reading” at a party:

— Choose a person from the group who seems the most open and receptive.

— Start with general statements that fit most people (Barnum effect): “I feel that you are a person who values honesty, but sometimes faces difficulties in expressing your true feelings.”

— Observe the reaction. If the person agrees, continue in the same vein. If not, adjust your approach.

— Use the “branching” technique: “I see the letter M… it might be related to someone close… maybe a mother or…?” Wait for a reaction and develop the topic depending on the answer.

— Apply cold reading, paying attention to details of appearance, clothing, behavior: “I feel that you are a creative person… possibly related to art or design?” (if the person is dressed brightly or unusually).

— End the session with a general positive statement: “I see a bright future ahead of you, full of opportunities. It’s important that you trust your intuition in the coming months.”

“Mind Reading: Finding a Hidden Object” Trick

This impressive trick demonstrates the seeming ability of the mentalist to “read minds” and find hidden objects. In fact, it is based on subtle perception of a person’s micro-movements and psychological techniques. Here’s a detailed description of how to perform this trick:

Preparation:

— Choose a volunteer from the audience.

— Explain that you will try to read their thoughts to find a hidden object.

— Emphasize the importance of honesty and cooperation for the success of the experiment.

Execution:

— Ask the volunteer to hide a small object within the room or a certain area.

— Explain that you will need their help to establish a “mental connection”.

— Take the volunteer’s hand and start slowly moving it in a circle.

— Instruct the volunteer to mentally say “stop” when their hand is pointing in the direction of the hidden object.

— Watch carefully for the slightest movements of the volunteer’s hand.

— When you feel a slight tension or micro-movement, stop and point in that direction.

— Move in the indicated direction, continuing to “read” signals from the volunteer. The volunteer will try to lead you away from the object, so they will likely tense their hand in the opposite direction from it.

— Repeat the process until you find the object.

Key points:

— Sensitivity: Train your sensitivity to micro-movements. Even if the volunteer doesn’t say “stop” out loud, their body will still react.

— Confidence: Act confidently, even if you’re not completely sure about the signal. Your confidence will enhance the impression of the trick.

— Practice: This trick requires significant practice for accurate calibration and interpretation of signals.

Complicating the trick:

— Searching in other rooms: Ask to hide the object in another room or even in another building.

— Searching in the city: For particularly impressive performances, some mentalists practice finding objects hidden somewhere in the city.

Psychological aspects:

— Ideomotor response: This trick is based on involuntary muscle movements associated with a person’s thoughts.

— Confirmation bias: People tend to notice and remember successes, ignoring failures, which enhances the impression of the trick.

“Determining the location of a hidden object” Trick

This intriguing trick is based on using automatic reactions of the human body and demonstrates the mentalist’s ability to “read” non-verbal signals. Here’s a detailed description of how to perform and improve this trick:

Operating principle: The trick is based on involuntary micro-movements of a person’s body that occur when they think about the location of a hidden object. These movements are so fast and imperceptible that the person usually doesn’t realize them, but an attentive observer can notice them.

Preparation:

— Ask someone to hide a small object in the room while you’re not there.

— Enter the room and announce that you will try to find the hidden object using your “extrasensory abilities”.

Execution:

— Stand in front of the person who hid the object.

— Create an atmosphere of tense expectation.

— Unexpectedly and sharply ask: “Where is the object?”

— Carefully observe the person’s reaction at the moment of the question.

— Pay attention to:

— Direction of gaze (even momentary)

— Slight movement of the head or body

— Involuntary hand movements

— Move in the direction indicated by these involuntary signals.

Key points:

— Speed of reaction: The automatic reaction occurs in the first fractions of a second after the question. Be ready to catch this moment.

— Unexpectedness: The element of surprise is critically important for getting an involuntary reaction.

— Observation: Train your ability to notice the smallest movements.

How to recognize a prepared person:

— Deliberate movements are usually slower and “unnatural”.

— If a person deliberately looks in another direction, it often looks exaggerated.

— Observe other parts of the body — they may reveal the true direction.

Practice and improvement:

— Regularly train with friends and family.

— Experiment with different types of questions and intonations.

— Learn to distinguish between sincere and deliberate reactions.

This trick not only demonstrates the amazing possibilities of human perception but also emphasizes how closely our thoughts and physical reactions are connected. It also serves as an excellent example of how attentiveness and practice can develop almost supernatural observation skills.

“Surveillance Detection: Attention Check” Trick

Have you ever wondered how to determine if someone is watching you? Perhaps you’re in a situation where you need to be careful, or you have suspicions that someone is constantly observing you. Or maybe you just like someone and want to know if they’re paying attention to you? There’s a simple way to find out.

Here’s how to do it:

— Choose a moment when you suspect you’re being watched.

— Suddenly, but not too abruptly, turn your head towards the ceiling or window.

— Pretend as if you’ve seen something very interesting or unusual there.

— Immediately after this, quickly look at the person you suspect of surveillance.

— If this person also turned in the same direction you just looked, it’s a sure sign that they were watching you.

The reason this works is that when a person is interestedly following someone, their attention automatically and unconsciously follows the object of observation, including what interests this person. This reaction occurs reflexively before the person has time to realize and suppress it.

Important note: don’t make the head movement too abrupt. If you turn too quickly, people around you may notice it in their peripheral vision, which will attract their attention, and they will also start looking in the same direction, distorting the results of your experiment.

This simple trick can be useful in various situations, from ensuring personal safety to understanding if someone is interested in you.

Pendulum Trick: Reading Subconscious Signals

This fascinating trick demonstrates the power of subconscious signals and micro-movements of the body. It is based on the ideomotor effect — a phenomenon where thoughts and images cause barely noticeable muscular reactions.

To perform the trick, you’ll need a simple pendulum, which can be easily made by tying a small heavy object (such as a ring or key) to a thread or thin string 15—20 cm long.

Start by inviting a friend or viewer to participate in the experiment. Explain that you will demonstrate an amazing connection between mind and body. Ask the participant to take the pendulum by the free end of the thread and hold their hand in the air, not resting it on the table. The pendulum should hang freely.

Now comes the most interesting part. Ask the participant a question to which you know the answer is “yes”. For example, ask: “Is your name [participant’s name]?”. When the person mentally answers “yes”, their subconscious causes micro-contractions of muscles, which lead to a slight forward-backward movement of the hand. These tiny movements cause the pendulum to swing in the same direction.

Then ask a question to which the answer will be “no”. In this case, subconscious signals will cause lateral movements of the pendulum. Explain to the participant that the pendulum moves by itself, reflecting their subconscious thoughts.

To complicate the experiment, try influencing the pendulum’s movement using visual cues. Place a long straight object (such as a pencil) in front of the participant and ask them to focus on it. The pendulum will start moving along this line. Replace the straight object with a round one (such as a saucer) — the pendulum will start describing circles.

The final chord can be guessing a chosen object. Lay out several small objects or cards in front of the participant. Ask them to choose one without telling you. Then suggest that they slowly move the pendulum over each object, concentrating on the question: “Is this the chosen object?”. Observe the pendulum’s movements — they will be different over the chosen object.

“Vacuum” Experiment: Non-verbal Suggestion and Filling the Void

This experiment demonstrates the amazing ability of our subconscious to fill in gaps and respond to non-verbal signals. It is based on the principle that our brain strives to complete unfinished actions and follow implicit social scenarios.

The essence of the experiment is to induce a person to perform a certain action without directly asking them to do so. In this case — to get the interlocutor’s phone number without asking for it.

Here’s how it works:

— Preparation: Take a sheet of paper and a pen.

— Unexpected action: In the middle of a conversation, unexpectedly tear the sheet of paper in half. This action disrupts the usual course of conversation and creates a moment of confusion.

— Demonstration of intention: On one half of the sheet, write down your phone number. This non-verbally demonstrates your intention to exchange contacts.

— Passing the initiative: Pass the second half of the sheet to the interlocutor. Don’t say anything, just hand over the paper.

— Observing the reaction: Carefully watch the interlocutor’s reaction. Many people will automatically follow your example and write down their number.

Psychological principles underlying this experiment:

— Principle of reciprocity: People tend to respond to action with action.

— Filling the void: Our brain strives to complete unfinished scenarios.

— Social scenarios: We automatically follow generally accepted behavior models.

— State of light trance: Unexpected actions can cause momentary confusion, during which a person is more susceptible to suggestion.

It’s important to note that this method doesn’t guarantee 100% success. Some people may not succumb to suggestion or consciously refuse to follow the implicit scenario. However, even in this case, you will be able to notice the initial impulse — a slight hand movement or a glance at the pen, which show that the subconscious reacted to your actions.

“Heads or Tails” Trick: Mathematical Magic

This captivating trick demonstrates how simple mathematics can create the illusion of supernatural abilities. It is based on the principle of even and odd numbers, which remains unchanged under certain operations.

Preparation: You will need a handful of coins or any other objects with two distinguishable sides (for example, playing cards, pieces of paper with a mark on one side).

Performing the trick:

— Pour the coins onto the table in front of the audience.

— Count the number of coins lying face up. Remember this number.

— Turn away from the table and ask a volunteer to flip coins in random order. With each flip, the volunteer should say “done”. The volunteer is allowed to flip the same coin multiple times.

— Mentally add one to the initial number of heads each time you hear “done”.

— When the volunteer finishes, ask them to cover one of the coins with their palm.

— Turn to the table. If your final sum is even, then the number of visible coins lying face up is also even (and vice versa for an odd number).

— Count the open coins with heads. If there’s an even number of them, and your sum is odd (or vice versa), it means the hidden coin is lying face up. Otherwise, it’s tails.

— Announce the result, surprising the audience with your “ability” to guess.

Mathematical justification: Each coin flip changes the parity of the total number of heads. Adding one to your count with each flip tracks these changes. In the end, the parity of your sum will correspond to the parity of the actual number of heads.

Variations:

— Use other objects: playing cards (red/black), dominoes (dots up/down), pieces of paper with a mark on one side.

— Complicate the trick by working with a larger number of objects or allowing several viewers to flip them.

Presentation tips:

— Create an atmosphere of mystery. Talk about the “energy fields” of coins or about the “quantum connection” between you and the objects.

— Practice quick counting so as not to give yourself away with long pauses.

— If you make a mistake, don’t get upset. Even “real psychics” sometimes make mistakes!

What a person can do after mastering basic mentalism skills

Even a basic understanding of mentalism principles can significantly improve your life. You will learn to better understand people, their motives and emotions. Your communication skills will improve, which will positively affect personal relationships and career. You will be able to more effectively persuade people and influence their decisions. In addition, you will learn to better control your own thoughts and emotions, which will lead to greater self-confidence and personal growth. Mentalism will open up a new view of the world for you, where every interaction with people becomes an exciting game of the mind.

“35—37: Mental suggestion of a number” Trick

This fascinating psychological trick demonstrates the power of suggestion and the ability of our brain to follow hidden instructions. Here’s how to perform it:

— Preparation:

— Take a sheet of paper and a pen.

— Write the number 35, then demonstratively cross it out and write 37.

— Fold the sheet so that the numbers are not visible.

— Execution:

— Pass the folded sheet to the viewer.

— Say: “I wrote a number and I’m sure you can guess it. I’ll help you with hints.”

— Give the following hints: a) The number is between 10 and 50. b) Both digits are odd and different. c) 11 and 33 don’t fit, but 17 and 19 do.

— Ask the viewer to imagine a number that meets these criteria.

— Revelation:

— Most people will name the number 37.

— Ask the viewer to open the sheet and see that you actually wrote this number.

— The second most frequently guessed number is 35, so if the person names it, you’ll have another step to complete the trick on the right note, just say that you initially thought of 35 and suggested it, but then decided that 37 was needed and probably 35 was too strongly “imprinted” in the volunteer’s consciousness.

Psychological explanation: This trick works due to several factors:

— Limiting choice: Your hints narrow the range of possible numbers.

— Recency effect: The last mentioned numbers (17 and 19) make people think of numbers ending in 7 or 9.

“Magic Square” Trick

This impressive mathematical trick allows you to instantly create a magic square corresponding to any given number. Here’s a step-by-step instruction:

— Preparation:

— Memorize or discreetly write down the basic structure of the square: 8 11 B 1 A 2 7 12 3 D 9 6 10 5 4 C

— Execution:

— Ask the viewer to name any number from 25 to 100.

— Quickly calculate: a) Subtract 21 from the named number (this will be number A). b) A+1 = B c) B+1 = C d) C+1 = D

— Fill in the square, entering A, B, C, D in the corresponding places: Let’s say the viewer chose the number 37.

8 11 17 1 16 2 7 12 3 19 9 6 10 5 4 18

— Demonstration:

— Show that the sum of numbers in each row, column and diagonal is equal to the named number.

— Surprise with additional properties: a) The sum of numbers in the corners is equal to the named number. b) The sum of numbers in any 2x2 square is also equal to this number. c) The sum of numbers in the corners of any 3x3 square inside the large square also gives this number.

Mathematical justification: The basic structure of the square ensures a constant difference between the sums in different parts. Adding A, B, C, D compensates for this difference, creating a magic square for any number.

Presentation tips:

— Practice quick calculations.

— Create an atmosphere of mystery around the process of creating the square.

— Emphasize the universality of the method, suggesting viewers check it with different numbers.

This may seem like a simple trick, however, Derren Brown demonstrated the “magic square” trick as an encore in his UK tour in 2004, and the audience gave him a standing ovation.

Attention management technique: “Two Glasses”

This example from a mentalist’s arsenal demonstrates how you can subtly manipulate the audience’s attention during a public speech. Imagine you’re giving a presentation and want one part of the information to be perceived subconsciously, and the other consciously. Sounds incredible, but it’s possible with a simple technique.

For this experiment, you’ll need two ordinary glasses. Here’s how it works:

Place one glass normally, and lay the second one on its side next to it so that the audience can clearly see it. This unusual element activates the Cartesian theater of our brain — the area responsible for conscious perception. The lying glass will “disturb” the familiar picture of the world, and all the audience’s attention will be focused on it. At this moment, the part of your report that you want to convey on a subconscious level will be perceived by the audience without critical thinking.

When you want to switch the audience to conscious perception, simply take the lying glass and start putting it upright. At this moment, people’s attention will be maximally concentrated on your action. Experienced magicians often use such moments to imperceptibly remove or move something with the other hand, as everyone is only looking at the hand with the glass.

After both glasses are standing normally, the audience will calm down, and people will start listening more attentively and remembering information. Of course, the effectiveness of this technique may vary, but overall, the impact on the audience’s perception will be significant.

This principle of attention management underlies many illusionist tricks, where the magician deliberately distracts the audience’s attention from real actions. Similar techniques are also widely used in politics, military strategies, and even in competitive struggle between companies. The ability to manage audience attention is a powerful tool that can be used both for good and harm, so it’s important to apply it ethically and responsibly.

“Unnoticed watch removal” Trick (Derren Brown’s method)

This amazing trick, which can be seen freely available in Derren Brown’s video, demonstrates how people can independently remove watches, take out wallets and give them away in ordinary conversation, and then simply leave, realizing what happened only after some time.

The essence of the trick lies in distracting attention and simultaneous suggestion. In the video, Brown approaches a person and asks how to get to a certain point. Then he starts pointing in the direction of the place he’s interested in, thereby diverting the person’s consciousness as it follows the pointing finger. The person also starts showing the direction, following the request.

After this, Brown extends his hand for a handshake, causing an automatic reaction — a pattern behavior, and the person responds in kind. With his second hand, Derren takes the person’s hand by the wrist, at this moment the person already falls into a light trance.

In parallel with this, Brown has a bottle of water, which he gives to the person and asks to hold. The person automatically takes it, without thinking why they need it. This action further diverts consciousness, immersing the person deeper into a trance.

At this moment, Brown asks for the watch. Being in a trance, the person extends their hand and removes the watch. After this, they continue to be in confusion, and Brown takes the water bottle from them and leaves.

After some time, the person realizes that their things were taken and starts analyzing what happened. All this looks fantastic, and I, after watching the video, couldn’t believe how easy it is to create such a situation. Therefore, it was necessary for me to try it myself.

I practiced by passing things to my friends for them to carry. I did everything the same way: distracted attention to something, then extended the thing, saying “take it”, and then changed attention to another direction. Periodically this worked, people took things and carried them for a long time.

When this part started to work, I decided to test the trick on my acquaintance. I performed the trick in the same way, only the acquaintance took off their watch and gave it to me. I closely monitored their state and at the right moment took the watch for myself. We continued to talk about something else.

I performed this trick at a meeting that lasted quite a long time. I took the watch at the very beginning, and at the end of the meeting, the person came to their senses and started looking for their watch. I approached them with the watch on my hand and started asking what happened and where, in their opinion, the watch had gone. Periodically, I waved my hand with their watch in front of them, but they didn’t pay attention to it. Only at some point did they say that it looked like theirs. Then I told them that it was indeed their watch.

In my case, it was an acquaintance, so they didn’t start quickly thinking about what happened and didn’t come to me after 5 minutes with accusations. If I had done this with a stranger, it would have been different — they would probably have realized quite quickly that something had been taken from them and would have returned to me.

This trick is designed for certain people, certain time, and a person’s state. If a person is maximally focused, it will be quite difficult to conduct this experiment. If a person is slightly distracted in thoughts, then it’s not so difficult to do this with certain skills and practice.

“Payment with paper” Trick (Derren Brown’s experiment)

This impressive and quick experiment by Derren Brown demonstrates how you can pay with simple pieces of paper instead of real money in a store. Brown shows that the success of the trick depends not on the value of the goods, but on the level of concentration of the seller.

The mechanics of the trick are quite simple. Brown starts a dialogue, distracting the seller’s attention to various things. He periodically says the phrase “everything is fine”, which serves as a command to calm the person. At a certain moment, he passes the papers, pointing to them and naming the denomination of the banknote they supposedly symbolize.

Then Brown asks again about the amount, names it, and points to the seller as if asking for confirmation. When the seller says “yes”, confirming Brown’s words, they unconsciously agree with the previous action where Brown pointed to the fake banknote. During the process, several more elements of distraction and suggestion occur, and in the end, the seller simply takes the papers, gives the goods, and after some time even counts out the change.

After this, Brown shows how the person leaves the store and tries to understand what happened. Only after some time does the seller realize that there are ordinary papers in the cash register, and starts to remember how this could have happened.

This experiment can also be found freely available on the internet.

I also repeated this experiment, but not at the level of papers, because if you do this without some confirmation that you’re doing it for an experiment and not fraud, then nothing good awaits you further. Therefore, I used situations where it was easy to correct everything afterward, and just gave different banknotes of a different denomination. That is, where it was necessary to give 1000, I gave 50, pointing at it with my finger and saying “1000”, repeating several times “good, everything is good”. The seller took this money, thinking it was the banknotes that I should have given them, gave me the goods and change from 1000.

Of course, then I returned all this money and said that I had made a mistake, that I had given the wrong thing. The person was in a rather scattered state because they didn’t understand what exactly I had given them and what exactly I wanted to return. I had to explain how the confusion occurred.

Such things are quite difficult to do without good preparation and calibration skills. These techniques show us very well the weak points of the psyche. When we begin to realize how changeable reality is, we begin to look at a huge number of processes in a completely different way and pay much more attention to details, to what violations can occur in the consciousness of loved ones and ourselves, and how powerful and fast these changes can be.

Advanced methods for advanced practitioners

— Forced choice: a technique where a person seems to be making a free choice, although in fact all options lead to the result you need.

— Implicature reading: a method where you give a person incomplete information, forcing them to fill in the details themselves, which you then “guess”.

— Micro-expressions: the ability to read the tiniest changes in facial expression that can last fractions of a second but reveal a person’s true emotions.

— Linguistic programming: using certain language patterns to influence a person’s subconscious.

— Mental maps: creating complex systems of associations for memorizing and reproducing large amounts of information.

Example of using forced choice: You want a person to choose a specific card. You lay out 10 cards face down in front of them, but you know in advance where the card you need lies. You ask the person to point to any 7 cards. Regardless of which cards they choose, you remove 6 of them, leaving one of those they chose (if it’s not the one you need) and three unchosen ones, among which is the one you need. Then you ask them to choose two of the remaining four cards. Again, regardless of their choice, you remove one card, leaving the one you need and one more. Finally, you ask them to make a final choice between two cards. Thus, the person seems to have completely controlled the selection process, although in fact you directed them to the desired result at each stage. If they choose the one you wanted in the end, they will say they guessed, and if they choose the wrong one, just remove it and the chosen one will remain.

What a person who has mastered mentalism at a professional level can do

Mastering mentalism at a professional level opens up truly amazing possibilities. In personal life, you will become a master of communication, able to establish deep and influential connections with people, easily resolve conflicts and create harmonious relationships. In the professional sphere, you can reach unprecedented heights — whether it’s a career in the corporate world, where your negotiation and persuasion skills will become unsurpassed, or your own business, where you can accurately understand customer needs and effectively manage a team, and most importantly, this level of thinking will lead you to high positions in almost any endeavor, simply because you will think in a completely different way.

You will be able to perform as a professional mentalist, giving impressive performances and consultations. Your abilities to analyze people and situations will become almost supernatural, allowing you to foresee the development of events and make optimal decisions. Moreover, a deep understanding of how the human mind works will lead to significant personal growth — you will learn to control your thoughts and emotions, get rid of limiting beliefs and unlock your full potential. Mentalism at this level is not just a set of skills, it’s a new way of life that opens doors to a world of limitless possibilities.

Plane crash

One of the mentalists even predicted a plane crash and gained instant fame. He said he could sense disasters and warn about them. In reality, he just analyzed statistics and understood where accidents often occur, with what periodicity, and using probability theory predicted where the next catastrophe might be. In the end, after some time it happened and of course he reminded everyone that he “knew all this in advance”. This is an absolutely unethical prediction, nevertheless it well demonstrates the variability of mentalism techniques and the possibilities of both the “predictions” themselves and the influence on the masses.

Returning to tasks

Now that you know more about mentalism, try to return to the initial tasks and solve them again. For example, if earlier you couldn’t understand how a mentalist guesses thoughts, now you can analyze the situation from the point of view of cold reading, observing micro-expressions and managing attention. You will see that many “miracles” of mentalism are actually based on a deep understanding of psychology and masterful application of certain techniques.

Training task:

In the near future, try to apply some mentalism techniques in everyday life. For example:

— At work or study, practice observing non-verbal signals of colleagues or classmates. Try to “read” their mood or attitude towards the discussed topic.

— In a conversation with a friend, use the cold reading technique. Start with general statements and observe the reaction, gradually clarifying details.

— Try to apply the attention management technique in an everyday situation. For example, tell a story, deliberately distracting the listener’s attention from key details, and then surprise them by showing how these details are connected.

— Experiment with mnemonic techniques to improve memory. Try to memorize a shopping list or important dates using the method of loci or other memorization techniques.

Remember that mentalism is an art that requires practice. Don’t get upset if not everything works out the first time. The main thing is to train regularly and observe the results.

Stories of mentalism at a professional level

— Derren Brown and lottery prediction: In 2009, Derren Brown shocked the public by correctly predicting the winning numbers of the UK national lottery live on air. He used a combination of statistical analysis, psychological techniques, and skillful presentation to create the illusion of foresight. This trick attracted huge public attention and demonstrated how powerful mentalism techniques can be in skilled hands.

— Banini Molld and corporate espionage: Banini Molld, known as the “human lie detector”, used his mentalism skills and micro-expressions to work with large corporations. He helped companies identify potential spies and dishonest employees by analyzing their behavior and non-verbal signals during interviews and meetings. His work helped prevent the leakage of confidential information and save millions of dollars.

— Keith Barry and decision manipulation: Irish mentalist Keith Barry demonstrated his abilities by manipulating the decisions of a large company’s CEO during an important business meeting. Using subtle cues and psychological triggers, Barry was able to influence the CEO’s choice in favor of a certain business proposal, without saying a word directly about this decision. This case showed how powerful mentalism influence can be in a business environment.

— Lior Suchard and government consultations: Israeli mentalist Lior Suchard used his skills to consult government agencies on security issues. He helped develop methods to counter manipulation and deception, based on his understanding of human psychology and non-verbal communication. His work contributed to improving security protocols and interrogation methods.

— Max Major and influence on financial markets: American mentalist Max Major conducted an experiment in which he demonstrated how one can influence the decisions of traders in the stock market. Using a combination of subliminal messages, body language, and psychological triggers, he was able to predict and partially influence short-term fluctuations in stock prices. This experiment sparked a discussion about the ethics of using such techniques in the financial sphere.

These stories demonstrate how professional mentalists can apply their skills in various fields — from entertainment to business and national security. However, they also raise important ethical questions about the boundaries of using such abilities and the need for critical thinking in the modern world.

Assessment questions

— How useful do you find mentalism on a scale from 1 to 10?

— How difficult does mastering basic mentalism techniques seem on a scale from 1 to 10?

— How many points, in your opinion, can your life improve if you master mentalism at a good level (from 1 to 10)?

— How much more effective do you feel already, just by learning about the principles of mentalism (from 1 to 10)?

— What aspects of your life could improve thanks to mentalism skills? (for example, communication, work, personal relationships)

By answering these questions, you will be able to better understand how useful mentalism can be specifically for you.

Game Theory: Strategic Thinking in Action

Game theory is a mathematical discipline that studies optimal decision-making in conditions of conflict of interest. It was born at the intersection of mathematics, economics, and psychology in the mid-20th century. The founders of game theory are considered to be John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern, who published the book “Theory of Games and Economic Behavior” in 1944.

Imagine that life is a big board game. It has players (people, companies, countries), rules (laws, social norms), and everyone strives to win (achieve their goals). Game theory helps us understand how to best “play” this game, considering that other players are also striving for victory.

Game theory is applied in various fields: from economics and politics to biology and computer science. It helps analyze situations where success depends not only on our actions but also on the decisions of other participants.

In everyday life, game theory can help us in negotiations, when making decisions about purchases or investments, even in relationships with people. In business, it is used to develop competition strategies, pricing, and conduct auctions. In science, game theory helps study evolution, animal behavior, and the work of artificial intelligence.

How it works — a generalized algorithm

— Identify the “players” and their possible strategies.

— Evaluate possible outcomes for each combination of strategies.

— Determine what constitutes a “win” for each player.

— Analyze which strategies are optimal for each player.

— Find equilibrium — a situation where no one benefits from changing their strategy alone.

Game theory is a powerful mathematical tool that, despite its formal nature, finds wide application in analyzing human behavior and decision-making. Although it is not part of psychology in the strict sense, game theory provides a unique opportunity to model and predict human behavior in various situations. This makes it an indispensable tool in areas related to effective thinking, personnel management, negotiation, as well as in developing business strategies and in many other areas where human thinking and interaction play a key role.

At its core, game theory combines elements of mathematics, statistics, and probability theory, applying them to the analysis of thinking processes and decision-making. It allows creating models of complex social, economic, and strategic situations, providing tools for their analysis and prediction of possible outcomes.

Backward Thinking

One of the most frequently used and effective methods of game theory is analyzing the situation “in reverse order” or “backward thinking”. This approach involves considering the situation not from beginning to end, as we are usually accustomed to thinking, but vice versa — from the final goal to the current moment. This method allows for more accurate prediction of possible actions of participants and their consequences.

The traditional approach to analyzing situations often suffers from a lack of strategic thinking. We tend to consider events step by step, without looking far ahead. This leads to our forecasts often being inaccurate, as we do not take into account all possible consequences and reactions of other participants. We seem to be moving blindly, not knowing how our current actions may affect the final result.

It’s interesting to draw a parallel with a cognitive bias known as the “Texas Sharpshooter”. This bias is that people tend to find patterns in random events after the fact, creating logical connections where they initially did not exist. Understanding this bias helps to realize how much easier it is to explain events when we know their outcome than to predict them in advance.

The method of backward thinking in game theory uses this property of our thinking in a positive way. Instead of trying to predict the future by moving from the present moment forward, we start with the desired result and move backward to the current situation. This allows us to see more clearly the necessary steps and possible obstacles on the way to the goal.

This approach has much in common with some NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) techniques used for modeling the future. In NLP, a method is often used where a person first visualizes the desired result, and then mentally goes through the path to this result in reverse order. For example, a person can imagine themselves achieving a certain goal, and then “ask” imaginary friends about what actions they took yesterday, a week ago, a month ago, etc., to achieve this goal.

This approach to analyzing situations and planning actions has several important advantages:

— It allows you to better see the final goal and not lose sight of it in the planning process.

— It helps identify key stages and decisions that need to be made to achieve the goal.

— It facilitates the identification of potential obstacles and problems that may arise on the way to the goal.

— It promotes a more creative approach to problem-solving, as it allows looking at the situation from an unusual perspective.

— It helps avoid the traps of linear thinking when we are too focused on the obvious and immediate consequences of our actions.

In the context of game theory, this method is especially useful when analyzing multi-move strategies, where the actions of one participant affect the decisions of others, and the final result depends on a complex chain of interactions. By considering the situation from end to beginning, we can better understand which decisions will lead to the desired result, taking into account the possible reactions of other participants.

Basic tools for beginners

— Dominant strategies: choosing an action that is better than any other, regardless of the actions of other players.

— Nash equilibrium: a situation where each player chooses the best strategy for themselves, considering the choice of others.

— Prisoner’s dilemma: a classic game demonstrating the conflict between personal and common interests.

— Mixed strategies: using random choice between several pure strategies.

— Sequential games: analysis of situations where players take turns making moves.

Prisoner’s Dilemma

Let’s consider the classic “prisoner’s dilemma”. Two suspects are arrested and held in different cells. The prosecutor doesn’t have enough evidence for conviction, so he offers each a deal: if one testifies against the other and that one remains silent, the first goes free, and the second gets 10 years. If both remain silent, they’ll be sentenced to a year for a minor crime. If both testify against each other, each gets 5 years.

Step 1: Identify the players (two prisoners) and their strategies (remain silent or testify).

Step 2: Evaluate the results:

— Both remain silent: each gets 1 year

— One testifies, the other remains silent: the first goes free, the second — 10 years

— Both testify: each gets 5 years

Step 3: Determine the “win” — minimum prison term.

Step 4: Analyze optimal strategies: For each prisoner, testifying is more beneficial, regardless of the other’s choice:

— If the other remains silent, by testifying, you can go free (instead of 1 year)

— If the other testifies, by testifying, you get 5 years (instead of 10)

Step 5: Find equilibrium: Nash equilibrium — both testify, getting 5 years each, although if both remained silent, they would only get a year each.

This paradox shows how individually rational decisions can lead to a collectively irrational result.

Practical task:

Try to apply game theory to a bargaining situation in the market. You’re selling a used car. Determine:

— Who are the players? (you and potential buyers)

— What are your strategies? (for example, set a high price, medium, low)

— What are the buyers’ strategies? (offer a high price, medium, low, or refuse to buy)

— What are the possible outcomes? (sale on different terms or no deal)

— What is the “win” for you and for the buyers?

Analyze the situation and try to determine the optimal strategy. Then apply this strategy in a real situation of selling or buying something. Compare the results with your usual approach.

Buffett’s Dilemma

“Buffett’s Dilemma” is a brilliant example of applying game theory to a real political problem. Warren Buffett, known as the “Oracle of Omaha” due to his unparalleled investment abilities, proposed an interesting solution to the problem of campaign financing in the United States. His proposal included:

— Limiting contributions from individuals to amounts from $1,000 to $5,000.

— Banning contributions from corporations and unions.

— Banning the use of “soft money” (unlimited contributions to political parties).

At first glance, this proposal seems reasonable and fair. It aims to reduce the influence of large donors and corporations on the political process, which should make elections more democratic. However, as Buffett himself notes, this reform is practically unfeasible.

The reason for this paradox lies in the very nature of the political system. The legislators who should approve such a reform are those who would lose the most from its adoption. Their political career largely depends on their ability to attract large donations. Thus, adopting this reform contradicts their personal interests.

This situation resembles the classic “prisoner’s dilemma” from game theory. In the original dilemma, two criminals face a choice: cooperate with each other or betray each other. Although cooperation is beneficial for both, the individually rational decision leads to betrayal.

In the case of financing reform, legislators face a similar choice. Adopting the reform may be beneficial for society as a whole, but individually, each legislator risks losing the advantage in fundraising, which could cost them re-election.

To resolve this dilemma, Buffett proposes a genius solution based on game theory principles. He suggests the following scenario:

— Some eccentric billionaire (not Buffett himself) makes a public statement.

— If the reform bill is rejected, this billionaire commits to donating a billion dollars to the political party that casts the most votes for passing the bill.

This clever plan creates a new game situation:

— If a party votes against the bill, it risks that another party will vote for it and receive a billion dollars.

— If a party votes for the bill, it will either receive a billion (if the bill doesn’t pass) or achieve the adoption of the reform (if the bill passes).

As a result, it becomes beneficial for each party and each individual legislator to vote for the adoption of the reform, regardless of how others vote. This creates a situation where passing the bill becomes the only rational outcome.

The beauty of this solution is that the billionaire won’t even have to spend the promised billion dollars. The very threat of this donation changes the incentive structure in such a way that the bill will be passed.

This is a vivid example of how understanding game theory and strategic thinking can help solve complex social and political problems. Buffett demonstrates how to change the rules of the game in such a way that personal interests of participants coincide with public interests.

This approach can be applied in other areas where there are conflicts of interest between short-term personal benefits and long-term public goods. For example, in issues of ecology, education, or healthcare.

However, it’s worth noting that in reality, applying such an approach may face legal and ethical problems. Nevertheless, the idea itself demonstrates the power of strategic thinking and game theory in solving complex social dilemmas.

Mixing Moves: Strategic Unpredictability in Game Theory

The story with Takashi Hashiyama and the auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s presents a fascinating example of applying game theory in a real business situation. This case demonstrates the importance of strategic thinking even in seemingly simple games like “rock, paper, scissors”.

The situation developed as follows:

— Hashiyama’s company wanted to sell an art collection worth $18 million.

— The two largest auction houses, Sotheby’s and Christie’s, made attractive offers.

— Instead of a traditional choice, Hashiyama proposed to decide the matter with a game of “rock, paper, scissors”.

Result:

— Christie’s chose scissors

— Sotheby’s chose paper

— Christie’s won and received a commission of $3 million

At first glance, this game seems purely random, where it’s impossible to predict the opponent’s actions. However, a deeper analysis shows that even here there is room for strategy.

Christie’s approach:

— They turned to the children of their employees who regularly play this game for advice.

— The children advised starting with scissors, arguing that “everyone knows you should start with scissors”.

Sotheby’s approach:

— They considered the game purely random and didn’t develop a strategy.

— Their choice of paper was random.

Analysis of the situation:

— If both sides chose randomly, each option would have equal chances (1/3 to win, 1/3 to lose, 1/3 for a draw).

— However, Christie’s didn’t choose randomly, they used a strategy.

— Sotheby’s missed the opportunity to analyze the possible strategy of the opponent. If they had thought about the fact that Christie’s might receive advice to “always start with scissors”, they could have chosen rock and won.

— In this situation, both sides made mistakes: Christie’s overestimated the importance of strategy in a one-time game, while Sotheby’s underestimated the possibility of a strategic approach from the opponent.

Key lesson: In one-time games, random choice can be effective. However, in repeated games, a more complex approach is necessary. It’s important not just to change strategies in a predictable way, but to achieve true unpredictability.

Unpredictability is a key element of successful “mixing of moves”. This means that your actions should not follow any recognizable pattern that the opponent could use against you.

This example illustrates how even in simple games, game theory principles can be applied to gain an advantage. It also shows how important it is to analyze not only your own strategy but also the possible strategies of the opponent, even in situations that at first glance seem purely random.

Two Envelopes Paradox: A Puzzle of Probability Theory and Decision Making

The Two Envelopes Paradox is an intriguing puzzle in the field of probability theory and decision making that has been puzzling mathematicians, philosophers, and game theorists for almost a century. First formulated in the 1930s, this paradox gained wide recognition in the late 1980s in its modern formulation with two envelopes.

The essence of the paradox:

— You have two closed envelopes with money in front of you.

— You know that in one envelope the amount is twice as much as in the other.

— You choose one envelope, open it and see the amount A.

— You are offered to exchange this envelope for the second, closed one.

The paradox arises with the following reasoning:

— In the second envelope, there may be either 2A or A/2.

— The probability of each outcome is 50%.

— The expected value of the second envelope: 0.5 (2A) +0.5 (A/2) = 1.25A

— 1.25A> A, so it seems profitable to always change the envelope.

However, this reasoning leads to an absurd conclusion: regardless of which envelope you opened, it’s always beneficial to change it. But this cannot be true for both envelopes simultaneously.

Attempts to resolve the paradox:

— Limiting the maximum amount: If we know that the amount in the envelope cannot exceed some value X, then by opening an envelope with an amount greater than X/2, we definitely know that this is the larger envelope.

— Considering infinite sums: If we allow the amount in the larger envelope to be arbitrarily large, we face problems of mathematical expectation for infinite quantities.

— Analysis of extreme cases:

— If there is 1 unit in the opened envelope, we know it’s the smaller envelope.

— If we allow infinitely large sums, the mathematical expectation becomes undefined.

— Probabilistic approach: In the limit, when amounts can be arbitrarily large, the probability that the exchange will be beneficial or not beneficial tends to 50%.

Significance of the paradox:

Resolving this paradox can have important implications for various fields:

— Thermodynamics: understanding some paradoxes in this area.

— Optimization of technical systems.

— Improvement of electronic circuits.

— Development of strategies for financial markets.

The key to understanding the paradox lies in realizing that our intuitive understanding of probability and expected value can fail in situations with uncertainty and potentially infinite quantities.

This paradox demonstrates how careful we should be when applying seemingly simple probabilistic reasoning to complex situations. It also shows how important it is to clearly define conditions and limitations in decision-making tasks.

In the context of game theory, the two envelopes paradox emphasizes the importance of complete information and correct assessment of expected value when making decisions under uncertainty.

Critical Mass: How the Market Chooses Winners

The history of technology and market development is full of amazing turns, where the best product doesn’t always win. A vivid example of this phenomenon can be observed in the history of car engines and computer keyboards. These stories demonstrate how achieving critical mass in the market can determine the fate of technology, even if there are more efficient alternatives.

At the beginning of the automotive industry development in America, hydrogen engines had a significant advantage over internal combustion engines. They were more powerful, more environmentally friendly, and didn’t depend on petroleum products. It seemed that the future belonged to them. However, an unexpected turn of events — an epidemic that caused water pollution and mass cattle death — led to the decision to remove water from the streets. This unexpectedly undermined the position of hydrogen engines and gave a chance to internal combustion engines, which quickly occupied the vacated niche. Over time, thanks to mass production and constant improvement, they not only caught up but also surpassed hydrogen analogues in quality and potential.

A similar story happened with the QWERTY keyboard layout. Despite the fact that more efficient layouts were developed, allowing to increase typing speed by 20—25%, QWERTY remained dominant. The reason for this lies in market inertia and people’s unwillingness to relearn. Professional typists were already accustomed to QWERTY, and companies didn’t want to spend time and resources on retraining staff. As a result, even more efficient layouts couldn’t overcome the barrier to entry into the market.

These stories illustrate an important principle of market economy: once a product reaches a certain critical mass in the market, it becomes extremely difficult to displace, even if more advanced alternatives appear. Consumers get used to the product, infrastructure is formed, and the costs of transitioning to a new technology become too high.

For business, this means that when entering the market with a new product or concept, it’s critically important to understand how masses of consumers act and how they will react to the novelty. Sometimes the advantages of a new product can be outweighed by the difficulties of its implementation. On the other hand, if you manage to capture even a small but key part of the market (for example, 10% of the most active users), this can become a springboard for further product distribution.

Thus, the concept of critical mass in market strategy emphasizes the importance not only of product quality but also of timing, marketing, and understanding consumer behavior. This is an important lesson for anyone who seeks to bring an innovative product or technology to market.

Bystander Effect: The Paradox of Collective Irresponsibility

In social psychology and game theory, there is an interesting phenomenon known as the “bystander effect” or “spectator effect”. This paradoxical effect demonstrates how the presence of a large number of people can actually reduce the likelihood that someone will come to the aid of a person in a critical situation.

The essence of the phenomenon is that in an emergency situation, when a person needs help, the probability of receiving this help is inversely proportional to the number of potential helpers. In other words, the more people are around, the less chance that someone will actually help.

This effect is explained by several psychological factors. Firstly, there is a “diffusion of responsibility”. Each person in the crowd thinks that someone else will surely help, and therefore does not take any action themselves. Secondly, people tend to orient themselves to the behavior of others. If no one reacts to the situation, an individual may decide that the situation is not as serious as it seems, or that intervention is inappropriate.

Research confirms this effect. In experiments, it was shown that if a person believes they are the only one who can help, the probability of providing assistance is about 86%. However, if two more people are present in the situation, this probability decreases to 62%, and if four people are present — to 31%.

This phenomenon has serious consequences in real life. There are known cases when people became victims of crimes on crowded streets, but no one came to help. This happens not because people are evil or indifferent, but because of the psychological effect that makes everyone think that someone else will surely help.

Understanding this effect is important not only for psychologists and sociologists but also for ordinary people. If you find yourself in a situation where you need help in the presence of many people, it’s more effective to address a specific person, pointing at them and clearly formulating a request for help. This removes the effect of diffusion of responsibility and significantly increases the chances of receiving help.

Moreover, awareness of this phenomenon can help each of us to be more attentive and responsive in everyday life. Understanding that others may not react due to this effect, we can take responsibility and provide help when necessary.

Thus, the “bystander effect” is a vivid example of how collective behavior can lead to unexpected and sometimes dangerous results. This once again emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and active civic position in modern society.

Three-Person Duel: The Paradox of Strategic Thinking

In game theory, there is an intriguing problem known as the “three-person duel”. This problem not only demonstrates the complexity of multilateral conflicts but also reveals the paradoxical nature of optimal strategies in such situations.

Imagine three shooters positioned at the vertices of an equilateral triangle. Each has their own probability of hitting: the first (A) hits with a probability of 0.5, the second (B) — with a probability of 0.8, and the third (C) never misses. They shoot in turns, choosing any target. The game continues until only one survivor remains.

At first glance, it may seem that the participants’ chances are proportional to their accuracy. However, analysis of the situation from the point of view of game theory reveals a much more complex picture.

Let’s start by considering the strategy of the most accurate shooter (C). If it’s his turn, he will always shoot at B, as B represents a greater threat than A. This immediately puts B in an extremely disadvantageous position — his chances of survival tend to zero.

Shooter B, understanding this, should always aim at C when it’s his turn. This is B’s only chance for survival, even if the probability of success is low.

The most interesting is A’s strategy — the weakest shooter. Paradoxically, his optimal strategy may be… not to shoot at all! If A shoots in the air, the turn passes to B, who is forced to shoot at C. This creates a situation where A can survive with a probability exceeding 50%.

Mathematical analysis shows that if A shoots at C, his chances of survival are about one-third. If he skips a turn, this probability increases to 49/90, which is more than half.

This paradoxical result illustrates a key principle of game theory: sometimes the best strategy is to refrain from active actions. In this case, by allowing stronger opponents to eliminate each other, the weakest participant can significantly increase their chances of survival.

The problem also demonstrates the importance of considering all possible outcomes and strategies of other players. Even if a player is not given a turn, understanding their potential actions is critically important for analyzing the situation as a whole.

In a broader context, this problem can serve as a metaphor for many real situations in business, politics, or personal relationships, where direct confrontation is not always the optimal strategy.

The key question here is not the ability to perform complex calculations, but the readiness to consider non-standard solutions and accept the idea that sometimes the best action is no action. Can you overcome the instinctive desire to “do something” and choose a strategy of inaction if it is truly optimal?

This example vividly illustrates how counterintuitive optimal strategies can be in complex multilateral conflicts, and emphasizes the importance of deep analysis and strategic thinking in game theory.

“Road Expansion Paradox”

In a large city, there was a problem with constant traffic jams on the main highways. City authorities, applying simplified game theory logic, decided that road expansion would lead to improvement of the situation. Their reasoning was as follows:

— More lanes = higher capacity

— Higher capacity = fewer traffic jams

— Fewer traffic jams = faster movement around the city

Based on this logic, the city invested huge funds in expanding key highways, increasing the number of lanes from 2—3 to 5—6 on some sections.

However, the result was exactly the opposite of what was expected:

— The expanded roads initially did indeed become less congested.

— This led to more people preferring personal transport over public transport.

— The increase in the number of cars on the roads led to new traffic jams, now on the expanded highways.

— In the long term, the traffic situation became even worse than before the road expansion.

Why this strategy failed from a game theory perspective:

— The change in behavior of “players” (drivers) in response to changing conditions was not taken into account.

— Ignoring the “Nash equilibrium” — a situation where each participant chooses the optimal strategy for themselves, considering the choice of others.

— Long-term consequences and adaptation of the system to new conditions were not considered.

— The “Braess paradox” was overlooked — a phenomenon where adding additional capabilities to a network can worsen the overall performance of the system.

A more effective strategy based on the correct application of game theory could include:

— Comprehensive analysis of the behavior of all road users.

— Consideration of alternative strategies, such as improving public transport or implementing smart traffic management systems.

— Modeling long-term consequences of various strategies.

— Creating incentives for optimal use of road infrastructure by all traffic participants.

This example shows how simplified application of game theory principles without considering the full complexity of the system can lead to ineffective solutions and undesirable consequences.

Examples of applying game theory in real life

— Price wars in business

A classic example is price competition between companies. When one company lowers prices, others are forced to follow to avoid losing customers. This can lead to a “race to the bottom” where all participants lose profit. Game theory helps companies develop more complex pricing strategies that take into account the long-term consequences of their decisions.

— International negotiations and diplomacy

Nuclear deterrence during the Cold War is a vivid example of applying game theory in international relations. The concept of “mutually assured destruction” is based on game theory principles, where neither side can win by starting a nuclear war.

— Auctions

Auction design, especially in the field of radio frequency allocation or government contracts, is often based on game theory principles. For example, the second-price auction, where the winner pays the second-highest bid, is designed to encourage participants to make honest bids.

— Ecology and resource management

The “tragedy of the commons” — a situation where individually rational behavior leads to depletion of a common resource — can be analyzed using game theory. This helps develop effective strategies for managing common resources such as fish stocks or clean air.

— Elections and political campaigns

Resource allocation in political campaigns, choice of positions on key issues, and debate strategies are often analyzed using game theory.

— Sports strategies

In sports, especially in games like football or tennis, game theory is used to analyze and develop strategies. For example, choosing the direction of serve in tennis or deciding whether to kick a penalty to the left or right corner in football.

— Traffic management

Game theory is applied to optimize traffic lights and manage traffic flows, where each driver is considered as a player making decisions based on the actions of other traffic participants.

— Social networks and online platforms

Recommendation algorithms in social networks and monetization strategies are often based on game theory principles, taking into account the interaction between users and the platform.

These examples show how widely game theory can be applied to analyze and optimize strategies in various areas of life.

What basic knowledge of principles can give

Even a basic understanding of game theory can significantly improve your life. You will start seeing strategic interactions everywhere: in personal relationships, at work, in politics. This will help you make more informed decisions, better understand the motives of other people, and anticipate the consequences of your actions. You will be able to negotiate more effectively, find mutually beneficial solutions in conflict situations, and even improve your results in board games!

Main methods of game theory

Additional key methods and concepts used to analyze and solve various strategic situations.

— Analysis of dominant strategies:

— Identifying strategies that are always better than others, regardless of the actions of other players.

— Helps simplify analysis by excluding obviously unprofitable options.

— Finding Nash equilibrium:

— Finding a situation where no player can improve their result by unilaterally changing their strategy.

— A key concept for predicting likely game outcomes.

— Analysis of mixed strategies:

— Considering probabilistic distribution between various pure strategies.

— Useful in situations where there is no obvious equilibrium in pure strategies.

— Backward induction:

— Analyzing the game from end to beginning, especially useful in sequential games.

— Helps determine optimal actions at each stage of the game.

— Analysis of repeated games:

— Studying strategies in games that are repeated many times.

— Takes into account long-term consequences and reputational effects.

— Expected utility theory:

— Evaluating strategies based on their expected value considering probabilities of various outcomes.

— Helps make decisions under uncertainty.

— Cooperative game theory:

— Analysis of situations where players can form coalitions.

— Includes concepts such as the core of the game and the Shapley value.

— Evolutionary game theory:

— Studying the development of strategies in a population of players over time.

— Applied to analyze biological and social systems.

— Bayesian games:

— Analysis of games with incomplete information, where players don’t know all the parameters of the game.

— Includes the concept of Bayesian equilibrium.

— Mechanism design:

— Developing game rules to achieve desired results.

— Applied in auctions, resource allocation, and economic policy.

— Analysis of network games:

— Studying games where the structure of interactions between players is represented as a network.

— Applied in the analysis of social networks and economic interactions.

— Stochastic games:

— Analysis of games where transitions between states occur randomly.

— Useful for modeling dynamic systems with uncertainty.

These methods are often used in combination with each other for comprehensive analysis of complex strategic situations in various fields, from economics and politics to biology and computer science.

An example of applying game theory and behavioral economics in public policy

This is about the so-called “presumed consent” policy regarding organ donation, which has been successfully implemented in several European countries, including Austria, Spain, and France.

The essence of the problem: In many countries, there is an acute shortage of donor organs for transplantation. Traditionally, to become a donor, a person had to actively express their consent, for example, by signing a donor card.

Game-theoretic approach: Researchers noticed that people tend to stick to the “status quo” and often do not take active actions, even if they generally support the idea of donation.

Solution: Instead of a system where people need to actively agree to become donors, a system of “presumed consent” was introduced. By default, all citizens are considered potential donors unless they have expressed explicit refusal.

Results:

— In countries with a “presumed consent” policy, the level of donation significantly increased. For example, in Austria, after the introduction of this policy, the donation level reached 99%, compared to 12% in Germany, where the explicit consent system was maintained.

— In France, after the introduction of this policy in 2017, there was also a significant increase in the number of donors.

— In Spain, which was the first to introduce this system back in 1979, there is now the highest level of organ donation in the world.

Game-theoretic analysis:

— Changing the “status quo”: Game theory predicts that changing the default option can significantly affect people’s choices.

— Asymmetry of efforts: Now it takes more effort to refuse donation than to agree to it.

— Social norms: The new policy creates a feeling that donation is the norm, which affects individual decisions.

— Information effect: The very fact that the state by default considers everyone donors can be perceived as a signal about the social importance of donation.

It’s important to note that this policy was accompanied by information campaigns and preservation of the right to refuse, which reduced potential ethical problems.

This case demonstrates how understanding game theory and behavioral economics can be used to develop effective public policy that significantly affects socially important decisions of people without the use of direct coercion.

Examples of using game theory in the advertising industry

— Price wars between Coca-Cola and Pepsi: A classic example of applying game theory in advertising and pricing. Companies constantly analyze each other’s strategies to optimize their advertising campaigns and pricing policies.

— Advertising slots during the Super Bowl: Companies compete for the best advertising spots during the Super Bowl broadcast. Here, game theory is applied to determine the optimal bidding strategy and maximize the effect of advertising.

— Programmatic advertising: In automated advertising buying systems, algorithms based on game theory are used to optimize bids in real-time.

— Burger King’s viral marketing: The “Whopper Sacrifice” campaign, where users were offered to delete 10 friends from Facebookin exchange for a free burger. This caused a viral effect and demonstrated an understanding of social dynamics.

— Competitive advertising Apple vs. Microsoft: Apple’s series of “Get a Mac” commercials and Microsoft’s response campaign show how companies strategically react to each other’s actions.

— Google AdWords advertising auctions: Google’s auction system for ad placement is based on game theory principles, ensuring efficient allocation of ad spots.

— Limited offers: The tactic of creating artificial scarcity (for example, “only today” or “limited series”) is based on understanding consumer behavior under limited choice conditions.

— Referral programs: Strategies for rewarding for attracting new customers are often developed taking into account game theory to maximize the network effect.

— Multi-level marketing: The reward structure in MLM companies is often developed using game theory to optimize participant motivation.

— Personalized advertising: Algorithms that determine which ads to show to a specific user are often based on game theory principles, taking into account user preferences and advertiser goals.

These examples show how game theory helps companies develop more effective advertising strategies, taking into account competitors’ actions and consumer reactions.

Advanced methods for experienced practitioners

— Bayesian games: analysis of situations with incomplete information.

— Repeated games: studying strategies in long-term interactions.

— Cooperative games: analysis of coalition formation and distribution of winnings.

— Evolutionary game theory: studying strategies that “survive” in the long term.

— Auctions: analysis of various auction formats and optimal participation strategies.

Professional mastery of game theory can open up amazing opportunities for you. In business, you will be able to develop complex competitive strategies, optimize decision-making processes, effectively manage risks. In your personal life, you will learn to find optimal solutions in complex life situations, improve your negotiation skills and conflict resolution. You will be able to understand social and economic processes more deeply, which will make you a valuable expert in many areas. Game theory can become your secret weapon in achieving success!

Now go back to the tasks we looked at earlier and try to solve them again using game theory tools. Notice how your approach to analyzing situations has changed.

Practice applying game theory in everyday life. For example, the next time you go to a store, think about pricing as a game between seller and buyer. Or analyze your relationships with colleagues at work from the perspective of a repeated game. You don’t have to immediately apply complex mathematical models — start with simple strategic thinking.

Examples of applying game theory at a professional level

— John Nash and the “Zero-Sum Game” in the Cold War: Nobel laureate John Nash applied his concept of equilibrium to nuclear deterrence strategy during the Cold War. His work helped shape the doctrine of “mutually assured destruction”, which, paradoxically, contributed to preventing nuclear war.

— Robert Axelrod and the evolution of cooperation: Axelrod organized a tournament of computer programs playing the “Prisoner’s Dilemma”. The winning “Tit for Tat” strategy showed how cooperation can emerge even in a competitive environment. This work influenced the understanding of the evolution of altruism and international relations.

— Alvin Roth and market design: Roth used game theory to develop a system for distributing donor organs and matching algorithms for schools. His work significantly improved the efficiency of these systems, saving lives and improving educational opportunities.

— Thomas Schelling and conflict strategy: Schelling applied game theory to international conflicts. His ideas about deterrence, negotiations, and communication through actions were used in real diplomatic situations, including the Cuban Missile Crisis.

— Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and political forecasting: Using game theory, Bueno de Mesquita developed a model for predicting political events. His model successfully predicted the outcome of Iran’s nuclear program and many other political outcomes with about 90% accuracy.

— Paul Milgrom and Robert Wilson in auction design: Their work on auction theory has been used by governments around the world to allocate radio frequencies. In the US, this brought in over $60 billion in revenue and significantly improved spectrum efficiency.

— Lloyd Shapley and the labor market: Shapley developed the stable matching algorithm, which was applied to match medical interns with hospitals in the US. This significantly improved satisfaction for both doctors and hospitals.

— John Harsanyi and negotiations with incomplete information: His work on Bayesian games found application in complex negotiations, including international trade agreements and corporate mergers.

— Roger Myerson and mechanism design: Myerson applied game theory to the design of economic mechanisms. His work influenced the development of regulatory systems, auctions, and contracts, optimizing outcomes in situations with asymmetric information.

— Eric Maskin and implementation theory: Maskin used game theory to develop mechanisms that allow achieving desired social goals. His work found application in environmental policy and voting system design.

These stories demonstrate how a deep understanding of game theory can lead to revolutionary changes in various fields, from international politics to economics and social engineering.

Evaluate how useful studying game theory was

— On a scale from 1 to 10, how useful do you consider game theory for your life?

— How difficult was it to understand the basic concepts (1—10)?

— How many points (1—10) do you estimate the potential improvement of your life with regular application of game theory?

— How much more effective do you feel already, just by learning about these concepts (1—10)?

Answering these questions will help you assess whether it’s worth delving deeper into the study of game theory and how it can affect your life.

The Art of Effective Learning: From Rapid Information Assimilation to Thinking Transformation

Methods for Studying New Information and Improving Learning

Methods for studying new information and improving learning are a set of techniques and strategies designed to increase the effectiveness of the learning process and knowledge acquisition. These methods emerged at the intersection of cognitive psychology, pedagogy, and neuroscience. They are based on understanding how the human brain works, how memorization and information processing occur.

The history of these methods goes back to ancient times. Even ancient philosophers and orators used mnemonic techniques to memorize large volumes of information. In the Middle Ages, monks developed systems for effectively studying sacred texts. But the real breakthrough came in the 20th century with the development of cognitive psychology and neuroscience. Scientists were able to study in detail the processes occurring in the brain during learning, which allowed the creation of scientifically based methods for improving learning efficiency.

Methods for studying new information and improving learning are used to:

— Accelerate the process of assimilating new knowledge and skills

— Improve memorization and long-term retention of information

— Increase concentration and attention during learning

— Develop critical and creative thinking

— Learn to effectively structure and systematize information

— Overcome difficulties and barriers in learning

— Increase motivation for learning

— Learn to apply acquired knowledge in practice

Imagine that your brain is a huge garden. Every new thing you learn is a seed that you plant in this garden. Usually, if you just throw a seed on the ground, it might not sprout or grow into a weak plant. But if you know the right ways to take care of the garden, then a large, beautiful plant will grow from each seed. Methods for studying new information are like magical gardening tools. They help you properly plant the knowledge seed, water it, take care of it, so that it grows quickly and bears many fruits. And the more you use these magical tools, the more beautiful and richer your garden of knowledge becomes!

Knowledge Retention

Learning effectiveness and long-term knowledge retention is one of the key problems of modern education. Research shows that even the best students from leading world universities remember only 5—12% of information from basic courses two years after graduation. This is alarming statistics that points to several significant problems in the education system.

Firstly, there is a lack of regular repetition and application of acquired knowledge. Many subjects turn out to be non-core for the future activities of graduates, and without practical application, this knowledge is quickly forgotten.

Secondly, students are rarely taught effective methods of structuring and memorizing information. Without these skills, even well-assimilated material is lost over time.

Thirdly, the process of assimilating information itself is often ineffective. The material is perceived as complex and abstract, a clear structure of knowledge is not formed in the minds of students. This indicates problems in teaching methods and preparation of educational materials.

It’s important to note that the given statistics concern basic knowledge. We can assume that the situation with additional, more specialized courses is even more depressing.

This problem becomes particularly relevant in the modern world, where we spend a huge amount of time and effort on learning, but don’t pay enough attention to the learning process itself. If we focused on learning how to learn effectively, our productivity could increase many times over. Even a slight improvement in learning methods, for example, increasing memorability by just 5%, can lead to an increase in overall learning effectiveness by 1.5—2 times. There is huge potential for the development of education in this area.

It’s also interesting to note the results of a study that showed that 10 years after graduation, the most successful careers are made not by straight-A students, but by students whose performance was between excellent and average. These people don’t strive for mechanical memorization of material, but rather understand its essence, assimilate key concepts. They intuitively use effective models of thinking and learning, which allows them to work better with information and assimilate it.

It’s important to understand that true intelligence is not just accumulated knowledge. It’s the ability to find correct answers and create new ideas. It’s the skill of effectively working with information and managing one’s own thinking. The development of these abilities should become a key goal of modern education.

Education in the modern world is becoming increasingly important, becoming a key factor in human development. It plays a dual role: on the one hand, it’s an investment in the future of our children, on the other hand, it’s a way for adults to adapt to a constantly changing world.

Speaking of children, it’s important to understand that the most valuable thing we can give them is not material goods, but the opportunity to develop and adapt to life. Of course, we can provide for them financially, buy real estate or open a bank account. However, if children are not ready for independent life, these material goods can quickly disappear or even harm, depriving them of motivation for further development.

True success lies not in the amount of money or fame, but in the ability to survive and develop in any conditions. A successful person is one who, having lost everything, can restore their position even in the most difficult and hostile environment. In the modern world, full of global crises and uncertainty, the ability to adapt to any situation becomes invaluable. It is this ability, based on the ability to think effectively, that we should develop in ourselves and pass on to our children.

For adults, continuous education is becoming a necessity. The further we move into the future, the less in demand people become who do not receive new knowledge and do not develop in different areas. Already now, large and developed companies are looking for employees who can think creatively and critically.

A modern in-demand specialist must possess a whole set of skills:

— Creativity, but not abstract, but related to business — the ability to generate ideas that can potentially bring income.

— Business modeling skills and understanding of company economics.

— Ability to assess demand and adequacy of one’s ideas (critical thinking).

— Systems thinking to combine knowledge about the market, company, and other aspects into a single structure.

— Communication skills and stress resistance.

— Ability to control one’s emotions and effectively convey one’s thoughts to others.

Such specialists are valued in large companies, they are entrusted with serious projects. Sometimes even these abilities themselves make a person in demand, even if they do not have deep knowledge in a specific area.

With the development of technology, more and more processes are being automated, many jobs are disappearing faster than new ones appear. In these conditions, the demand for high-level professionals is growing, the gap between people is increasing based on the principle of ability to think.

Paradoxically, automation can lead to even professionals beginning to lose the ability to think independently. People increasingly rely on the internet to search for information, on electronic devices to remember data, on calculators for calculations. They think less about the work of their own body, relying on pills. All this leads to the loss of basic skills and knowledge.

An example from the field of programming illustrates this trend: previously, a programmer could write a program from scratch by themselves, now many simply assemble programs from ready-made libraries and templates. This leads to people forgetting how to write code without ready-made solutions.

A similar situation is observed in other areas. For example, marketers can use programs to analyze demand, but at the same time lose the ability to independently assess the market.

In these conditions, employees who can think, analyze, look at problems from different angles, come up with new ways of development, evaluate them and implement them become especially valuable. Such people become key figures in companies.

Thus, by learning to manage one’s thinking, a person can significantly increase their demand in the labor market. On the other hand, ignoring the development of thinking can lead to a person becoming unclaimed in society and business. Even those who currently occupy good positions risk losing the ability to think effectively and find themselves unable to solve new tasks in changing conditions.

The speed of changes in the modern world is such that constant learning is becoming a necessity. People change not just jobs, but professions several times in their lives. Even if a person remains in one profession, in 5 years it can change so much that almost complete retraining will be required.

Changes affect all areas. For example, designers used to just create beautiful images, now they have to think about the impact of design on business, about what emotions and thoughts it will evoke in the consumer, how it will affect sales. Programmers now need to be able to work with task management systems, know modern development methodologies. Stores are moving online, mastering delivery, studying internet marketing and modern management methods.

These changes require people to constantly learn and master new skills. For those who are not used to learning and developing, this process can be painful. However, for those who have learned to learn and think effectively, new tasks become a source of motivation. They understand that by mastering new things, they become more successful, increase their self-esteem and quality of life.

Learning Algorithm

— Preparation: Creating the right mindset and environment for learning.

— Overview: Quick review of the material to understand the overall structure.

— Active perception: Careful study of the material using active methods (for example, note-taking, asking questions).

— Comprehension: Linking new information with existing knowledge.

— Structuring: Organizing information into logical schemes or mental maps.

— Repetition: Regular repetition of studied material for better memorization.

— Application: Using acquired knowledge in practice or in new contexts.

— Reflection: Analysis of the learning process, identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

Information Evaluation

To develop, one needs to be able to learn. The more attention you pay to the learning process, the more effective your education becomes. But even if you don’t focus on how and what you study, simply consuming new information improves your thinking abilities and problem-solving skills.

In the modern information space, a large part of the content we encounter on the internet, in books, or at conferences can be either useless or outright false or distorted. Even if you are well-versed in the topic, a significant part of the information may be irrelevant to you. Nevertheless, even repeated familiarization with already known facts can be useful, as it expands your understanding of the topic, makes you look at the issue from a new angle, and generally has a positive effect on your thinking.

It often happens that during listening to a speech or report, you suddenly have an insight, and you find some solutions or new opportunities. Such effects occur almost constantly, and this is not the merit of the speaker, but a manifestation of your ability to think. You relax, immerse yourself in some process or task, the report brings you back to this, and your brain automatically gives you some answers.

Therefore, for development, you can watch, listen and read everything — all this will enrich your experience, and you will find new solutions and make new discoveries. I try to listen to different videos, even if I understand that there is nothing new for me in them, listen to speeches of people from other fields — all this allows the brain to give me new information. However, it’s important to remember that part of the information is always stored in the head, and if you consume only garbage content, it will clutter the brain, it’s better to study professional and high works. However, if it’s difficult for you to read classics, you shouldn’t force yourself, you will come to this gradually if the literature gradually becomes more complex.

It’s important not to take everything at face value. You can’t believe everything you hear and see. You may hear about some successful case and want to repeat it or come up with something of your own. But before doing what others do, you need to analyze everything thoroughly. You can’t trust just like that, you need to pay attention to all the details. For example, is the person trying to sell you their service by telling you how wonderfully everything worked for them, creating an expert path for themselves.

When you hear success stories, think about what they could really have been based on, what exactly the speaker might have forgotten to tell or deliberately concealed, what factors they didn’t take into account. Most of our thoughts that we like, we try to justify in all available ways, and business is no exception here. If a person was doing something and was sure that it would greatly affect the business in a positive way, they will look everywhere for confirmation of this thought. Your task is to evaluate this from the side, and it doesn’t matter how professional the person in front of you is and how big the gap between your knowledge is. Such mistakes are not private mistakes of people who don’t understand their direction, these are mistakes that lie in the basics of human psychology, even professionals are not immune to them.

Your task is to consume as much information and content as possible, while maintaining critical thinking in relation to any information, absolutely from any source, no matter how authoritative and logical it may be. This is a very important rule.

Most of what you will hear is far-fetched, is a special deception, the result of a lack of understanding of logic, numbers that are being talked about, a lack of understanding of probability and statistics. Manipulations are common, stories about some technological product, so veiled that they seem true, although in reality they are technically impossible at the moment. This is the norm now, and you need to adapt to this.

As I said earlier, the more you consume such information, passing it through critical thinking, the more you understand, the more new ideas come. Some cases, examples, stories are quite useful, they develop your variability of thinking, but there are also not the most useful things in this. For example, there are psychologists who tell very good and interesting stories about how people came to success, solved some of their problems, and when you listen to them, you really get a lot of benefits, you change your angle of view. However, these same psychologists often start to bring people to emotions, strongly motivate and promise that they will have everything they want, and it will be too simple, while you don’t need to do anything special. After this, people become very motivated for some actions, in reality this motivation is stimulation, and after some time this feeling passes, the person does not achieve the goal, because of which they lose interest in this topic in principle, as they were disappointed and decided that all this is generally useless. Therefore, try to get more information and less emotional context. Of course, emotions are good and useful, but only if you know how to control them very well, otherwise this swinging of emotions with the help of other people can backfire.

Once I worked in a marketing agency, we received requests from clients who were global companies, giants and market leaders. One of these companies was tasked with advertising their product in a certain way. They chose the audience to which the advertising should be directed — this was a specifically collected audience, not just a selection by gender and age, but an audience of potential buyers, collected based on certain actions of real buyers. At the same time, an unusual advertising channel was also chosen. We launched the advertising, spent the money that was allocated for this test, and sent a report on the results.

After some time, a manager who was talking with the client came to me and said that the client really wants us to explain why such results were obtained. The hypothesis was not bad, so I immediately decided that we need to describe why this campaign went very well. I wrote a justification for the results of the advertising campaign, in which I described all the reasons why this particular case was so successful. It was just a question for which there were no resources to look for answers, they just needed to be invented, to assume why it was so.

In this justification, I described what competitors this product had, how exactly they advertised, tied this report to the time of year and seasonality of sales, to changes in the market segment itself and the manner of consumption of users, described how this tool that we used developed and why exactly now and in this particular case it worked very well. The letter turned out to be very convincing, I gave it to the manager and said that everything sounds great, this is an excellent justification.

After some time, she returned to me and said that the client counted the results on their side and said that in fact this test was unsuccessful, and they are interested in why it was unsuccessful, not why it was successful. I needed to write a new justification, but I had too little time, so I decided to read my old one, think about where I might have misjudged something, and just change all the factors to the opposite pole.

For example, at the beginning I say that now there is an increased demand for this product, so people buy more of these products, they sell better, because of this, the number of buyers from those who saw our product has increased. In the second letter, I wrote that the demand for this product has now increased, accordingly, everyone starts advertising similar products, potential buyers have more choices, they no longer make decisions so quickly to buy our product because they have many other options, which reduces the number of buyers from those who saw our advertising.

Or the justification for audience search — the system, based on a sample of people, writes their similar characteristics and by them searches for other people with the same characteristics, assuming that these are also potential buyers. We had a fairly large audience of those people, by studying which we could identify separate factors on the basis of which to search for new potential buyers. In the first version, I said that the sample was very large, so there was a lot of data for the algorithm, accordingly, it could qualitatively determine the criteria for searching for new potential buyers and did it very well. In the second case, I said that we had a lot of data about people by which we needed to look for criteria, and because the sample of people was very large, their interests and behavior became more and more similar to the average person, the factors that distinguish them from everyone else were lost against the background of too many diverse interests, because of which the algorithm could not find the most similar, but found just an average audience for which our product is not so important.

When I finished the second justification, turning everything I wrote in the first upside down, I read it again and realized that it sounds very convincing. I gave this to my manager, who also said that this is an excellent justification and everything is very well and clearly described, most importantly — logically. She asked what of this is true, to which I absolutely honestly replied that I don’t know. The justifications sounded equally convincing, and all this was just assumptions, although they seemed to be based on facts. Naturally, the client was satisfied with the answer, but what of this was truth and reality was too difficult to understand.

In addition to facts in these reports, there were numbers that justified some conclusions, but even this did not save this report. Therefore, even if you hear a very logical speech that relies on any facts, hear numbers and statistical data, this still doesn’t mean anything. This is just an assumption of the person who is telling you this information, or their deliberately prepared lie. Therefore, it’s very important to pass everything you hear through internal evaluation filters.

In this story, I didn’t want to deceive the client. In the first case, I saw success and started thinking why, in the second case I learned that everything went badly, and again I started thinking why. That is, the conclusions I wrote were just conclusions I was thinking about. Although, frankly speaking, the second time when I was rewriting the report, I had excitement and I was thinking if it was possible to just reflect everything so that everyone would believe in this report, including myself. There are excellent books on how to deceive using statistical data, there are many such cases written there.

Where can learning principles be used

In everyday life:

— Learning a new hobby or skill (for example, playing a musical instrument, cooking, foreign language)

— Preparing for exams or tests

— Memorizing important information (phone numbers, addresses, passwords)

— Improving memory in everyday situations

In business:

— Training new employees

— Improving staff qualifications

— Mastering new technologies and work methods

— Preparing presentations and speeches

— Analyzing large amounts of information for decision-making

In science:

— Studying complex scientific concepts and theories

— Conducting research and experiments

— Analyzing and interpreting data

— Writing scientific articles and dissertations

— Preparing for scientific conferences and seminars

Basic tools for beginners

— Spaced repetition method: Repeating information at certain, gradually increasing intervals of time.

— Pomodoro Technique: Dividing learning time into short intervals (usually 25 minutes) with breaks.

— Mind maps: Visual representation of information in the form of a diagram with a central idea and branches.

— Active reading method SQ3R (Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review): Preliminary review, formulation of questions, reading, retelling, review.

— Mnemonic techniques: Using associations, acronyms or rhymes to memorize information.

— Feynman Technique: Explaining the studied material in simple words, as if you were explaining it to a child.

— Cornell note-taking technique: A special way of note-taking that divides the page into sections for notes, keywords and summaries.

Rules for effective information consumption and learning

— Critical thinking: In the modern world, there is a huge amount of unreliable information, manipulation and incompetence. Therefore, it is extremely important to develop critical thinking. It is necessary to check all received information and not take anything for granted. Even seemingly authoritative sources should be questioned.

— Combining learning with everyday life: As the world develops faster, we also need to speed up. There will not be enough time for separate learning, so we will have to integrate learning into everyday life. This may include combining learning with work, listening to educational podcasts while traveling, choosing films and books that carry educational value. The point is to use for learning the time that was previously not used effectively.

— Speed and volume of learning: It is necessary to learn to learn very quickly, as knowledge quickly becomes obsolete. New trends are constantly emerging, requirements of employers and business are changing. The amount of necessary information will grow, you will have to study not only your main specialty, but also related areas. In the modern world, professions are increasingly intertwined: for example, in business, the skills of product managers, marketers, economists and even psychologists are becoming important. To remain a demanded specialist, you need to at least have a general idea of the work of other directions. For this, such techniques as speed reading, watching videos at increased speed, as well as the ability to link knowledge from different areas and systems thinking are useful.

— Planning learning: With a large amount of information, it is extremely important to have a clear and structured learning plan. Without a plan, all learning can turn into just a hobby. If you want to adapt to the accelerated world of the future, you need to approach learning as seriously as a business project. This includes not only planning what and when you will study, but also who you will listen to. It is necessary to conduct preliminary research work to determine who is worth listening to and who is not, in what sequence and on what specific topics. For example, the speed reading technique says that preparation for reading is a very important element. You need to first read annotations, table of contents, highlight the most important chapters, and possibly even refuse to read what is not needed. This approach should extend to the entire learning process.

— Consistency: For effective and intensive development, learning must be constant. If you learn something for one month, then abandon it, and after a few months return to it again, most likely, this will not bring significant results. Of course, you will get some knowledge and skills, and this will be useful, but if we are talking about adapting to a rapidly changing world and future trends, this will not be enough. You will need to learn on a constant basis so that it becomes a habit and becomes the norm of life. The ability to self-learn will be highly valued in the future.

— Investment in education: Over time, the volume of available educational material will expand, but here it is important to consider two factors. Firstly, freely available material will often be already outdated, and you will need to keep up with consuming what is relevant now. Secondly, there will be separate courses that will be conducted by professionals in their field and professional educators, and these courses will be paid. Already now, investments in oneself, in one’s education, whether it’s self-improvement or professional skills, are one of the most important investments, and this trend will only intensify. In the future, investments in oneself and one’s learning will become absolutely necessary.

— Practicing acquired knowledge: It is not enough to just read, listen and consume information. If you do not use the acquired knowledge and practice it in real life, you will remain just a theorist without practical skills. Therefore, it is important to constantly apply and practice the acquired knowledge. If now it is often enough to just know more than others, then in the future it will be more important to be able to apply this knowledge in practice.

— Optimizing the learning process: Over time, simple techniques like watching educational videos while working will not be enough. You will consume a lot of content, but it is important that this information is not just accumulated, but integrated into your daily life and processed. Since your personal resources will not be enough, you will have to use additional methods to optimize the learning process. This may include speed reading techniques to increase the speed of information perception, memory training for better memorization and quick access to information, structuring information using mental maps, including brain work automation that will help combine all information into a single scheme. Techniques that allow using the subconscious and even sleep for learning, such as the “palace of skills” technique, are also useful.

— Desire to learn: If the education process itself does not bring you pleasure, if you try to learn “under the stick”, it will not bring great results. Therefore, it is important to create internal motivation, develop in yourself the desire to constantly learn. You need to move from the phase “I need to learn something” to the researcher phase. You should be interested not just in understanding some separate moment, but in studying the whole process, getting to the bottom of it, exploring all aspects and trying to modernize the acquired knowledge.

— Consciousness in the use of technology: The more technical solutions appear, the more important it will be to be able to abandon them in favor of developing one’s own thinking. If you rely on technology to perform basic cognitive functions (for example, using a calculator for simple calculations or relying on automatic systems for building logical schemes), you risk gradually losing the ability to think independently, memorize information and maintain high speed of thinking. Therefore, it is important to train your brain by performing many tasks without the help of technical means. For example, try to memorize information without using notebooks, perform calculations in your head instead of using a calculator. This may also include techniques for expanding time perception, for example, through entering a trance state or working with the “timeline”, which allows you to slow down the perception of what is happening and have time to think about more things per unit of time.

— Joint learning: In the future, there may be a need for role distribution in learning. One person will not be able to effectively consume and process all the necessary information, so it will be necessary to delegate the study of certain areas of knowledge to other people. Groups will be created where each person studies their direction, and then everyone comes together to combine the acquired knowledge and create a complete and correct picture of the studied subject or phenomenon.

All these rules are aimed at making the learning process more effective, continuous and integrated into everyday life. They take into account trends of acceleration of life pace, increase in the volume of information and the need for constant updating of knowledge in the modern world.

Example of using the methodology for studying new information

Suppose you want to study the basics of psychology. Here’s how you can apply effective learning methods:

— Preparation: Create a comfortable workspace, remove distracting factors. Set yourself up for learning, define goals and the time you are ready to devote to studying.

— Overview: Review the table of contents of a psychology textbook or an online course program. Form a general idea of the subject structure.

— Active perception: Start with the first topic, for example, “Introduction to Psychology”. Read actively, underlining key points and taking notes.

— Comprehension: Link new information with what you already know. For example, think about how psychological theories explain behavior you’ve observed in life.

— Structuring: Create a mental map of the main directions of psychology, their representatives and key concepts.

— Repetition: Use the spaced repetition method. Repeat the material in a day, then in a week, a month.

— Application: Try to explain the studied concepts to a friend or write a short essay on how psychological theories are applicable in everyday life.

— Reflection: Analyze which learning methods worked best for you, what was difficult, how you can improve the process next time.

Practical task for the reader

Choose a small topic that you would like to study (for example, the basics of photography). Try to apply the SQ3R method:

— Survey: Quickly review the material, paying attention to headings, subheadings, illustrations.

— Question: Formulate questions for each section. For example, “What is aperture?”, “How does shutter speed affect a photograph?”

— Read: Carefully read the material, looking for answers to your questions.

— Recite: Close the material and try to answer the questions you formulated in your own words.

— Review: Look through the material again, paying attention to points that you couldn’t remember.

Measure how long it took you to study the material and how well you remembered it. In a week, repeat the process with new material and compare the results.

Time intervals in learning

Tony Buzan, famous creator of the mind mapping method for thinking and memorization, devoted many years to studying the work of the brain. He investigated the physical processes occurring in the brain, neural connections and their development. Buzan focused on issues of thinking efficiency, studying ways to increase creativity, improve memory, create systematic thinking and structuring it. His contribution to this field is significant.

One of Buzan’s important discoveries concerns the processes of human rest and the brain’s perception of information. He found that with prolonged study of one subject, brain productivity gradually decreases. A person begins to understand the studied material worse, receptivity to new information decreases, the ability to memorize and restructure information decreases. All this leads to a decrease in learning efficiency and a decrease in motivation.

Buzan determined the optimal time intervals between learning periods. He claimed that receptivity to information decreases by almost half in an hour of continuous learning. Therefore, he recommended taking breaks during which the brain recovers and again begins to perceive information as effectively as at the beginning of learning.

Buzan’s surprising discovery was that if during a break a person is given another task that engages the other hemisphere of the brain, switching occurs even without rest. That is, changing the approach to solving a problem in itself leads to brain rest.

Buzan’s main conclusion concerned the impact of changing the type of consumed information and sphere of activity on learning effectiveness. He stated that if you alternate creative work, which is responsible for the right hemisphere of the brain, with logical, analytical work, which is done by the left hemisphere, then learning efficiency increases 5 times. This means that if you are engaged only in creative activities, you can develop in it, but not as effectively as if you alternated creativity with logical tasks.

Thus, if you change your spheres of thinking, engaging different hemispheres of the brain, and use them alternately (which is actually a rapid switching between them), your productivity increases significantly. This does not require special efforts, it is enough to simply alternate differently directed tasks.

However, there is also an opposite point of view, which was described by Jeff Sutherland, talking about the SCRUM methodology, according to which development teams work. According to this theory, if we are distracted and switch from one task to another, trying to perform two tasks simultaneously, our productivity drops by 50%. If we try to perform three tasks simultaneously, productivity drops by 60—70%, and with a larger number of tasks — by 80% or more.

This is explained by the fact that when we start thinking about some task, solving it and coming to certain conclusions, and then switch to another task, part of the information about the previous task is partially erased from our operative memory. We need time to delve into the new task, and then, returning to the old task, we spend additional time to remember where we stopped, what thoughts were in our head when we interrupted, what exactly needs to be done next. All this leads to significant losses of time and efficiency.

It’s important to distinguish between these two approaches. Changing the nature of brain work, which Buzan talks about, is a kind of rest, switching to other resources within the organism, but this is done without interrupting previous actions. That is, if you are thinking about some logical task, you should not suddenly drop everything and start something completely different — this will lead to failure. Also, if you try to listen to your body and have already started to feel something, you should not suddenly switch to solving some analytical task — this can also lead to negative consequences.

Productivity and learning ability depend on whether you give the brain the opportunity to assimilate information, whether you load it evenly. The key to effectively solving problems is to bring your thoughts and solutions to a logical conclusion. If you started solving a complex problem and cannot solve it, it is pointless to continue to strain excessively in the hope of a sudden insight. This insight is more likely to come precisely when you let go of the task, when you leave it to your subconscious, which will find a solution itself. Thus, the question is whether you interrupt the solution of the task or not, and not whether you change the type of activity.

Age and learning models

The process of learning and human development changes significantly depending on age. Our development is influenced not only by our own thoughts but also by the environment. For a child, teachers, friends, and, of course, parents have a particularly important influence. It is parents who form the child’s primary skills, abilities, and behavioral models.

In each age period, there are priority environmental factors that most strongly affect the child. In early childhood, parents play a key role, as the child primarily seeks warmth and care. As the child grows, there is a desire to be independent, and the social environment begins to have a stronger influence. In adolescents, this tendency is most pronounced — they are much more dependent on the opinions of others than young children or adults. These features are extremely important to consider when raising and educating a child.

There are various learning theories that describe how to approach education at different stages of life. For example, in early childhood, a child is not able to effectively learn based on strict rules, facts, and analysis. Play is necessary for them — it is through play that they learn about the world, gain experience, and, accordingly, knowledge. At the next stage of development, when the child grows up, they can be taught more formally, using cause-and-effect relationships, logic, analytics, and modeling. However, it’s important to note that the playful approach to learning does not completely disappear with age. Even for adults, learning through play can be much more effective, as it increases their involvement in the process. The problem is that creating educational games is more difficult than simply transferring information, so we often have to limit ourselves to more traditional learning methods due to lack of time and resources.

Some teachers tend to claim that some students learn poorly and don’t know how to learn, while others remember well and quickly everything they are told. However, this is often an attempt by teachers to shift responsibility for their professional shortcomings onto students. In fact, how well a student understands the material largely depends on the teacher’s ability to convey information. Of course, this doesn’t mean that if you come to some course or retraining, you should expect the teacher to motivate you, explain everything, and come up with simplified learning models. In most cases, this won’t happen, and then you have two options: either take responsibility for learning on yourself, or not learn at all. However, when it comes to raising children, you can’t shift responsibility onto the child. How they learn from your words depends on what words you choose and how you present them.

A child is born without the ability to speak and without understanding what language and words are. At the very beginning of life, the whole surrounding world for them is what they imagine in their head. Gradually, their ideas are corrected by the senses: they begin to see better, evaluate the surroundings based on what they see, hear, and feel. The child learns to know the world in this way for a long time. This base is in their head from birth, so language, words, facts — all this is initially alien to them, and they have to learn it, as it is not basically needed.

Of course, the child learns and begins to understand words, but it’s important to understand through what they continue to evaluate the world. They are only on the way to learning the language, they don’t yet fully understand how to speak and what exactly you are telling them. Accordingly, even at this stage, all cognition of the world still goes through basic things: vision, hearing, sensations. All these things are processed in their head automatically.

Therefore, for a child, it’s much more important not what we say, but what we do and what we think about. Children have very highly developed intuition and sensitivity, they understand much better what we think about, even if we don’t talk about it. If you say one thing, show another, and think about a third, the child will read all this information, and they will learn more about what is happening in reality, what you really feel and think.

For example, you can explain to a child that they need to eat a lot of vegetables because it’s healthy, but at the same time you yourself will eat burgers. The child will most likely want to eat the same as you, and will refuse salads. There is a saying that a child eats with their eyes. This implies that if parents eat improperly, the child will strive for the same diet. If the desire to eat healthy food is not supported by personal example, then no words and persuasions can explain to the child why they should do otherwise.

Thus, first of all, a child learns from your example. They learn not so much from what you say, but from how you act and what you think. Therefore, if you want to bring as much benefit as possible to your children and teach them something, the most important thing is to show this by your own example. Otherwise, all attempts to teach somehow differently will be ineffective. If you want your child to be successful, show them what success is, how to achieve it and what needs to be done for this. Show this by your own example, because your behavior is taken into account much better than words.

If you want the child to adopt your attitude towards other people, demonstrate this attitude so that the child can simply copy it. A child’s intuitive abilities are several times higher than those of an adult, so children will see, feel and imagine what you feel. If you want your child to develop, you need to show by your own example what development is. Otherwise, your words will most likely break against the beliefs that have already automatically formed in the child when they observed their parents’ behavior.

If you try to show the child with words that they need to develop, but in fact you don’t do this, it will simply create additional problems for the child. They will not understand why your body movements, facial expressions, smell say one thing, and words say another. As a result, they will not adopt what you wanted to convey to them. Moreover, their model of the world will also change in such a way that actions, thoughts and words will be perceived as absolutely different things that can not be coordinated with each other. This can lead to the formation of incorrect behavioral patterns and hinder their development and learning in the future.

Effective reading: from choosing a book to applying knowledge

Reading is not just passive consumption of information, but an active process that requires a strategic approach. Here’s how you can read books most effectively, based on the provided scheme:

— Selection of literature

Start by defining the section you’re interested in. Consider general recommendations and choose the most important books on the topic. If you’re new to the field, start with the simplest books. Before buying or starting to read, be sure to review the table of contents and introduction to make sure the book meets your goals.

— Preparation for reading

Define the purpose of reading. This can be obtaining general information, in-depth study of the topic, or searching for specific answers. Review the table of contents thoughtfully to get a general idea of the book’s structure. Read the back of the book to understand the main idea.

— Reading process

Choose a suitable way of reading depending on the type of literature and your goal:

— For fiction or “literature for the soul”, choose a relaxed posture and read without haste, immersing yourself in the text.

— For practical or scientific literature, use a posture for concentration.

— Apply speed reading technique for the first pass through the book to get a general idea.

— During the second reading, focus on chapters that remained unclear.

— Active reading

— Make notes of the main thoughts as you read.

— Use visualization for better understanding and memorization.

— After each chapter, make a brief retelling for yourself.

— Create mind maps as you progress through the book.

— Consolidation of material

— After finishing the book, make a complete retelling, referring to your notes and mental map.

— Review your mental map in a day, week, month and six months for better memorization.

— Acceleration of the process

— Before reading the book, watch a video on the topic for a better understanding of the context.

— Use audiobooks, gradually increasing the playback speed.

— Practice parallel listening to audiobooks while performing routine tasks.

— Application of knowledge

— Determine where the obtained information can be useful in your life.

— Actively look for opportunities to apply new knowledge in practice within two weeks — a month after reading.

— If direct application is not possible, look for analogies in everyday life.

— Principles of effective reading

— Always critically comprehend what you read, not taking information at face value.

— Read different sources on the same topic, including opposing viewpoints.

— Let knowledge “settle” — understanding often comes with time.

— Practice an interdisciplinary approach, linking knowledge from different fields.

— Maintain constant learning, as knowledge quickly becomes outdated.

— Further development

— Alternate types of literature: after a complex scientific book, read something fiction.

— Study at least 3 books on one topic for deep understanding.

— Gradually complicate the chosen literature as your competence grows.

— Regularly return to previously studied topics to update and deepen knowledge.

What a person who has mastered the basic level of this system can do

Even mastering the basics of effective learning methods, you can significantly improve your life. You will start to notice that you memorize information faster and for a longer period. Reading books will become not just a passive process, but an exciting journey where you actively interact with the text. You will be able to master new skills more easily, whether it’s playing the guitar or programming. At work, you will become more effective, processing information faster and finding non-standard solutions to problems. Your self-confidence will increase, as you will know that you are able to master almost any skill or area of knowledge. This will open up new opportunities for career growth and personal development. You will become more flexible and adaptive in a rapidly changing world, where constant learning is becoming the key to success.

Advanced methods for advanced users

— Leitner system: A system for effective memorization using flash cards and spaced repetition.

— “Memory Palace” technique: A mnemonic device using visualization and spatial memory to memorize information.

— “Anchoring” technique: A technique from NLP that links certain states or information with physical “anchors”.

— Speed reading: Techniques for increasing reading speed while maintaining or improving text comprehension.

— Advanced level mind mapping: Using complex, multi-level mental maps to structure large amounts of information.

— Edward de Bono’s “Six Thinking Hats” technique: A method for analyzing problems and making decisions from different perspectives.

— Cal Newport’s “Deep Work” method: A strategy for achieving high concentration and productivity when working with complex tasks.

Example of using an advanced methodology

Suppose you are studying a complex topic, for example, quantum physics. Here’s how you can apply advanced methods:

— Create a detailed mental map of the main concepts of quantum physics, using colors, symbols, and connections between ideas.

— Use the “Memory Palace” method to memorize key formulas and principles. For example, imagine that each room in an imaginary palace corresponds to a certain section of quantum physics.

— Apply the “Six Thinking Hats” technique to analyze various interpretations of quantum mechanics:

— White hat: facts and data about quantum phenomena

— Red hat: intuitive feelings and emotions about these concepts

— Black hat: critical analysis, possible problems and limitations of theories

— Yellow hat: optimistic view, potential advantages and discoveries

— Green hat: creative approach, new ideas and experiments

— Blue hat: organization of thinking, conclusions and planning for further study

— Use the Leitner system with flash cards to memorize terms, formulas, and concepts. Divide the cards into groups by difficulty and repeat them at different intervals.

— Apply the “Deep Work” technique, allocating 90-minute blocks of time for intensive study of the material without distractions.

— Use the Feynman Technique, trying to explain complex quantum concepts in simple language, as if you were explaining them to a child or a non-specialist.

— Practice speed reading when working with scientific articles on quantum physics, focusing on key ideas and quickly extracting important information.

What a person who has mastered the advanced level of this system can do

Having mastered advanced methods of studying new information and improving learning, you will open up a completely new world of possibilities. Your brain will become like a powerful supercomputer, capable of processing and structuring huge amounts of information with incredible speed and efficiency.

In the professional sphere, you will become an indispensable specialist, able to quickly master new technologies and techniques, find non-standard solutions to the most complex tasks. Your ability for deep analysis and synthesis of information will allow you to generate innovative ideas that can lead to breakthroughs in your field. You will be able to easily switch between different projects and disciplines, becoming a true polymath — a person of diverse knowledge and skills.

In your personal life, you will find that you are able to master any new skills with amazing ease — whether it’s a new language, a musical instrument or a sport. Your memory will significantly improve, allowing you to remember the smallest details of books read, movies seen or events experienced. This will enrich your life, make it more vivid and fulfilling.

Your communication skills will reach a new level. You will be able to easily find common ground with people from different spheres, deeply understand their point of view and effectively convey your ideas. This will make you a great negotiator, leader and mentor.

Most importantly, you will gain incredible confidence in your abilities and the ability for constant self-improvement. You will know that there are no knowledge or skills that would be inaccessible to you. This will give you the freedom to choose any path in life that you wish, and achieve outstanding results in it.

Algorithm of success: how to effectively learn from experience

Success in life largely depends on how we process and integrate our experience. Research shows that successful people and those who struggle with achieving goals experience and analyze their successes and failures differently. This difference in approach shapes their future behavior models and, ultimately, determines their life path.

Successful people have a special algorithm for working with experience:

— Associated living of successes: When it comes to positive experience, successful people fully immerse themselves in it. They live their achievements “from the inside”, associating with positive emotions and sensations. This allows them to deeply feel and consolidate success, creating strong motivation for further achievements.

— Dissociated analysis of failures: When faced with failures, successful people take the position of an outside observer. They analyze the situation “from the side”, which allows them to avoid negative emotional reactions and maintain objectivity. This helps to extract valuable lessons without self-flagellation.

— Multiple mental living: Successful people don’t just remember their experience — they actively work through it, mentally living through key moments several times. This helps to consolidate useful behavior patterns and find new insights.

— Deep analysis and conclusions: Instead of just stating “what went wrong”, successful people deeply analyze their experience, making constructive conclusions. They don’t brush off failures with the phrase “this is not about me”, but look for opportunities for growth in them.

— Formation of effective models: Based on the analyzed experience, successful people create and adjust their behavioral models. They don’t just “not repeat” mistakes, but actively form new, more effective ways of action.

In contrast, less successful people often:

— Dissociate from positive experience, not allowing themselves to fully feel and consolidate success.

— Immerse themselves too deeply in negative experiences during failures, which hinders objective analysis.

— Avoid mental return to experience, especially negative.

— Make superficial conclusions or ignore the opportunity to learn from experience.

— Form ineffective or self-destructive behavioral models.

Understanding and applying this algorithm can significantly increase our ability to learn from experience and achieve success. The key is to learn:

— Fully immerse yourself in your successes, savoring every moment of achievement.

— Distance yourself from failures enough to analyze them objectively, but not so much as to ignore their lessons.

— Regularly return to important experience, rethinking it.

— Deeply analyze each situation, extracting the maximum useful conclusions.

— Consciously form new, more effective behavior models based on the insights gained.

By applying this approach, we can significantly accelerate our personal and professional growth, turning every experience — positive or negative — into a step towards success.

Return to tasks

Now that you have familiarized yourself with various methods of effective learning, return to the practical task that you performed earlier. Choose a new topic for study, but this time try to apply a combination of several methods. For example:

— Start by creating a mental map on the topic to get an overview.

— Use the SQ3R method for in-depth study of the material.

— Apply the Pomodoro technique for time management during learning.

— After studying the material, try the Feynman method, explaining the topic in simple words.

— Create a set of flash cards on key concepts and use the spaced repetition method for consolidation.

Compare the results with your first experience. Pay attention to how the speed of information assimilation, depth of understanding and ability to recall the material after some time have changed.

Effective learning in parallel with work

Let’s think about when we can learn. On weekends, we want to rest. In the evening or morning, it’s often difficult to force ourselves. The time remains when we go to work and when we work. Many consider this time to be maximally loaded, but it is then that it is best to gain new knowledge.

I used to ride the train to work for 50 minutes. This was a time I looked forward to because I could calmly engage in self-education. I read, watched videos and learned something new every day. Possessing the speed reading technique, I extracted even more benefit from these 50 minutes. If I was tired and couldn’t read normally, I practiced recently learned skills or watched videos. This way I studied a lot of things: from professional knowledge to practical psychology. I understood that these were my most important investments in the future.

If you are very busy and don’t spend much time in transport, there is another solution: watch educational videos right at your workplace, in parallel with performing tasks. Turn on the video in “playback in external window” mode, reduce it and place it in the corner of the screen where it won’t interfere.

I apply this method almost daily, except for days completely occupied by meetings. This does not affect the quality of my work, as I focus main attention on work tasks, and the video serves as a background. If something important appears, I quickly expand the window, watch the needed fragment and collapse it again.

If you can’t watch distracted videos at work, watch materials on your professional field. This will help you become a more successful specialist without additional efforts.

Considering an 8-hour working day, you can consume from 3 to 6 hours of educational content daily. This is comparable to “reading” a large audiobook in two working days.

If it seems that the information is not being assimilated, start with simple videos that don’t require deep reflection. Remember that usually only about 20% of information is really useful, so most of it can be safely skipped.

Over time, you will get used to such learning and will be able to increase the viewing speed up to double. Imagine how your world will change in a year of such daily learning. How much information will you receive, how will your outlook expand, how will your thinking and professionalism change?

It’s important to learn to catch the necessary parts of information. If you consciously focus on key points, you will be able to extract from the video exactly what you really need.

This method of learning in parallel with work can become a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, allowing you to effectively use time that is usually wasted.

Practice

In the near future, try to apply the studied methods in various situations:

— At work: When preparing for an important project or presentation, use mind maps to structure information and the “Six Thinking Hats” method for analysis from different perspectives.

— In personal life: If you are mastering a new hobby, apply the spaced repetition technique to consolidate skills.

— When reading books: Try the SQ3R active reading method for better understanding and remembering what you’ve read.

— In everyday situations: Use mnemonic techniques to remember shopping lists, tasks or important dates.

— When studying a new subject or topic: Apply a combination of methods — from creating mind maps to the “Memory Palace” technique for memorizing key information.

Remember that mastering these methods requires practice. Don’t get upset if you can’t apply all techniques perfectly right away. Experiment, find what works best for you in each specific situation.

Automatic learning options: expanding the boundaries of cognition

In addition to traditional learning methods, such as studying on the road, allocating special time or learning before and after work, as well as on weekends, there are two more powerful but often underestimated resources for education. We are talking about automatic learning that can occur during sleep and in the background of your daily life.

The concept of automatic learning is based on the idea that our brain is capable of processing and assimilating information even when we are not consciously focusing on it. This means that you can “program” yourself to collect, process and integrate information in parallel with your normal life, without disrupting its usual course.

One of the methods of such learning is using the state of trance or deep meditation. In this state, you can give your body a command to study or understand certain information. For example, if you quickly read some material, but feel that it’s not fully assimilated, you can use the technique of immersion in trance. In this state, you focus on the knowledge “absorbing” into you, so that you start using it automatically. Surprisingly, this is often exactly what happens — after such meditation, you find that the material has become more understandable and accessible for application.

Another interesting technique is creating a “training camp” for your subconscious in your imagination. This is a kind of mental space where you can “send” part of your consciousness to study new information or practice skills. This technique is part of a broader methodology that I developed and called the “Palace of Skills”.

The “Palace of Skills” is an imaginary place in your consciousness where various aspects of your personality can “go” for training. After such training, these aspects of personality return to you with improved skills, which become available to you in everyday life. Alternatively, you can set up this process so that you receive new skills automatically, without the need for conscious intervention.

Imagine that you set a program for training a certain skill, and gradually, perhaps even imperceptibly to you, this skill improves. Or you “send” part of your personality to study some question, and after some time it returns to you with an answer. This may sound fantastic, but in practice, many people successfully use such visualization and self-programming techniques to improve their skills and knowledge.

Another important component of this methodology is its connection with the practice of lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming is a state in which a person realizes that they are dreaming and can to some extent control the content of their dream. Using this technique, you can train at night in your sleep, that is, at a time when you usually don’t engage in any productive activity.

Imagine that you go to sleep, and wake up with new knowledge or improved skills. At the same time, you don’t spend additional time from your daily life. On the contrary, you make time more effective, using for learning those hours that are usually spent exclusively on sleep.

These methods of automatic learning open new horizons in the field of self-education and personal development. They allow you to use the resources of our brain as efficiently as possible, engaging those aspects of it that usually remain unused in traditional learning methods. Although these techniques may seem unusual or even esoteric, many people report significant improvement in their skills and knowledge with regular use.

It’s important to note that these methods do not replace traditional learning, but complement it, allowing us to learn almost constantly, even when we are not aware of it. This can become a powerful tool for those who strive for continuous self-improvement and maximum realization of their potential.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in learning: opportunities and challenges

With the emergence and development of artificial intelligence, new horizons have opened up in the field of learning and problem-solving. AI provides an opportunity to delegate many functions, which simultaneously creates both problems and new opportunities.

One of the main problems associated with the use of AI is that it contributes to the development of superficial thinking. People delve less into the essence of things, which negatively affects the quality of information assimilation. For full assimilation of knowledge, a comprehensive approach is needed: reading, understanding, repetition, memorization, practical application, consideration of the process in the context of other processes, and finally, skill development. When we simply consume information without going through these stages, we cannot effectively apply the acquired knowledge.

AI makes any information easily accessible, can solve almost any task and perform almost any work. This leads to people no longer needing to strain intellectually, which can have destructive consequences for our thinking and psyche. There is a risk that people will become weaker, dumber, lazier, and they will have more psychological problems.

However, when used correctly, AI can become a powerful tool for development and learning. AI is capable of explaining any concept in various ways, adapting to individual user requests. It can create a personalized learning trajectory that takes into account the characteristics and needs of each person. If these capabilities are used wisely, they open up truly incredible prospects for education and self-development.

With the help of AI, you can understand almost any concept, create and solve complex problems, check your knowledge, clarify information at any moment, find answers to questions that previously seemed inaccessible, and practice applying the acquired knowledge. With the right approach, this can give a huge boost in development and learning.

It’s important to note that the impact of AI on the learning process will be different for different people. Those who love to think, analyze and learn will probably become even smarter, using AI as a tool to deepen their knowledge and skills. On the other hand, people accustomed to superficial perception of information may become even more superficial in their thinking.