The Functions of Scout Mindset and Soldier Mindset
A distinction between two mindsets: soldier mindset, which involves defending beliefs for emotional and social benefits, and scout mindset, which focuses on seeing reality clearly to make better judgments.
THE IDEA
THE FUNCTIONS OF SCOUT MINDSET AND SOLDIER MINDSET
| We use soldier mindset to adopt and defend beliefs that give us . . . | We use scout mindset to see things clearly so we can . . . |
|---|---|
| Emotional benefits: Comfort: Coping with disappointment, anxiety, regret, envy; Self-esteem: Feeling good about ourselves; Morale: Tackling challenges and not getting discouraged | Make good judgment calls about which problems are worth fixing, which risks are worth taking, how to pursue our goals, who to trust, what kind of life we want to live, and how to improve our judgment over time |
| Social benefits: Persuasion: Convincing other people of things that benefit us; Image: Appearing smart, sophisticated, compassionate, virtuous; Belonging: Fitting in to our social groups |
When to use it
When evaluating political candidates, use scout mindset to assess their policies and track record objectively.
In a team meeting, adopt scout mindset to consider all feedback openly rather than defending your own ideas.
When setting personal goals, use scout mindset to honestly assess your strengths and weaknesses.
In scientific research, examine whether a desired result is influencing the interpretation of data.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Political Evaluation
A person using soldier mindset might reject evidence that their favorite political candidate is flawed because it would challenge their self-image. A scout mindset would objectively evaluate both candidates' records to make an informed vote.
Business Decision
In a business meeting, soldier mindset might lead a manager to dismiss a new strategy because it contradicts their previous decisions, while scout mindset would consider the data openly.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Think of a recent decision you made: were you using soldier or scout mindset?
What emotional or social benefits might be preventing you from seeing a situation clearly?
How can you cultivate more scout mindset in your daily life?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- The Scout Mindset (Julia Galef)