Inherent Limits on Adjustment
Speakers anchor in their own intentions and believe their utterances are more transparent than they really are, failing to adjust for the addressee's perspective.
THE IDEA
Inherent Limits on Adjustment
Perspective taking can be limited even when speakers are at ease. Speakers attempting to convey their intentions anchor in those same intentions, and believe their utterances to be more transparent than they really are. Consequently, speakers might not perceive a need to make further adjustments to the addressee’s perspective. In the following anecdote, the mother of the 2-year-old Ely thought that what she was saying was unambiguous:
Linda: Ely, go get me your shoes.
[Ely brings a white shoe]
Linda: Get the other shoe.
[Ely brings a black shoe]
Here, the adult treats her intended meaning as transparent. For Linda, “the other shoe” had only one meaning, and her very attempt to convey this meaning inhibited her ability to perceive other possible meanings.
When to use it
When giving verbal instructions to children or subordinates, explicitly check for understanding from their point of view.
In written communication (e.g., emails or documentation), review your wording from the reader's perspective to reduce ambiguity.
During presentations, pause to invite questions or paraphrase key points to ensure the audience has grasped the intended meaning.
When designing user interfaces, avoid assuming that users will interpret labels or icons the same way the designer does.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Mother and child shoe example
Linda asks her 2-year-old Ely to get his shoes. He brings a white shoe. She says 'Get the other shoe,' assuming it is unambiguous, but he brings a black shoe, revealing that Linda's intended meaning was not as transparent as she thought.
Overestimating clarity in instructions
A manager gives detailed instructions to a team member and assumes they understand perfectly because the manager knows exactly what they mean. The team member, however, interprets the instructions differently, leading to errors.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Think of a recent conversation where you assumed your meaning was clear but the other person misunderstood. What might have led you to overestimate transparency?
How can you actively test whether your message is being interpreted as you intend, rather than assuming it is?
In what situations are you most likely to anchor in your own perspective and fail to adjust for your audience?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Heuristics and Biases The Psychology of Intuitive Judgment (Thomas Gilovich, Dale Griffin, Daniel Kahneman)