Context Makes The Irrational Rational
Inspired by on Lenny's Podcast
When you hear a story that seems crazy, nine times out of ten you just don't have the full context.
Bob Moesta teaches that 'the context makes the irrational rational. So the moment you hear a story, you go, I can't believe that, nine times out of 10, it's because you don't have the rest of the story.'
Your three-year-old is screaming because you cut their sandwich the wrong way. IRRATIONAL. Except... they're also exhausted, and they specifically asked for triangles, and everything in their life feels out of control, and this sandwich was the one thing they thought they could predict. Now it makes sense.
Your kid punches their sibling for no reason. IRRATIONAL. Except... they'd been poked seventeen times in the last hour, asked the sibling to stop, asked you to intervene, and finally lost their patience. Now it's not crazy - it's the logical end of a story you missed the beginning of.
Before you judge the behavior, get the full story. The tantrum that looks insane usually makes perfect sense once you understand what led up to it.
'Why would somebody cut their arm off?' Moesta asks. In certain contexts, you would too.
PM Theme: User research / understanding context
Parenting Theme: Understanding the full story behind behavior
“When you hear somebody's story and it seems irrational, like we'll have people go, 'Oh my God, that's an anomaly. That doesn't happen.' But what you realize is that the context makes the irrational rational.”Bob Moesta · 00:00:00
“The moment you hear a story, you go, 'I can't believe that,' nine times out of 10, it's because you don't have the rest of the story.”Bob Moesta · 00:55:37
