Have you ever noticed how exciting a new phone feels right after you get it, only to become “just your phone” a few weeks later?
Or how you might choose a new restaurant over your reliable favorite spot, just because it’s new?
That’s novelty bias in action – our brain’s natural tendency to be attracted to what’s new and different, often at the expense of what’s familiar and proven.
Think of your attention like a spotlight. While everything in the room might be equally important, that spotlight tends to automatically swing toward whatever’s new and different.
It’s like how a new student in class instantly captures everyone’s attention, even if they haven’t done anything particularly interesting yet.
Our attraction to novelty isn’t just a modern phenomenon – it’s wired into our brains for good reasons:
This bias influences many areas of our lives:
Our attraction to novelty can have significant consequences. When we constantly chase what’s new, we often fail to develop deep expertise or appreciation for anything.
This constant switching can lead to scattered attention, unfinished projects, and wasted resources. We might abandon perfectly good solutions just because something newer comes along, or miss out on the benefits of mastery because we never stick with anything long enough.
Moreover, the constant pursuit of novelty can create a cycle of temporary satisfaction followed by a need for another “new thing” fix.
Social media platforms purposely exploit our novelty bias:
Before jumping to something new, pause and evaluate whether you really need it. Consider if your current solutions are actually working fine, and whether the new option offers genuine improvements or just the excitement of novelty.
Take time to appreciate what you already have and know. Often, mastery and deeper understanding of familiar things can provide more satisfaction than the temporary thrill of something new.
When tempted by something new, give yourself a cooling-off period. This helps separate genuine value from the initial excitement of novelty.
Make a rule to complete or properly conclude current projects before starting new ones.
Understanding novelty bias can lead to better life choices:
Embracing new things when they truly offer value, not just because they’re new.
Staying with subjects or skills long enough to develop real expertise.
Making more conscious decisions about purchases and time investments.
Finding joy in mastery and familiarity, not just novelty.
Remember, being attracted to what’s new isn’t inherently bad – it’s part of what makes us human and helps us grow and adapt. The key is finding the right balance between embracing novelty and appreciating what we already have.
Next time you feel pulled toward something just because it’s new, pause and ask yourself: “Am I interested in this because it’s truly valuable, or just because it’s novel?” Sometimes, the best new thing is a deeper appreciation of what you already have.
127 Hours provides a gripping examination of novelty bias through Aron Ralston’s harrowing experience in Utah’s remote canyons.
Through Aron’s fateful decision to explore alone without telling anyone his plans, students witness how the allure of new experiences can override common sense and safety considerations.
The film powerfully demonstrates how novelty bias can blind us to familiar warnings and essential precautions as Aron, an experienced climber, ignores basic safety protocols in pursuit of another thrilling adventure.
His 127-hour ordeal trapped by a boulder, captured through intimate video diaries and hallucinations, forces him to confront how his constant chase for novel experiences has isolated him from meaningful connections.
Through this intense true story, viewers learn how novelty bias can transform from an engine of discovery into a dangerous form of overconfidence, making it particularly relevant for discussions about balancing the excitement of new experiences with proper risk assessment.
1. How does Aron’s initial decision to explore Blue John Canyon alone demonstrate novelty bias?
a) He follows standard safety protocols
b) He prioritizes the thrill of solo exploration over basic safety measures
c) He carefully plans his route with others
d) He avoids challenging areas entirely
2. What role does novelty bias play in Aron’s choice not to tell anyone his plans?
a) It leads him to underestimate the importance of this safety step
b) It makes him more cautious about his journey
c) It encourages him to share his plans widely
d) It has no influence on his decision
3. How does Aron’s experience as a skilled climber interact with novelty bias in the film?
a) His expertise makes him immune to novelty bias
b) His skills make him completely safe
c) His experience actually amplifies his novelty bias through overconfidence
d) His abilities have no relation to novelty bias
4. In Aron’s video diaries, how does he reflect on his novelty-seeking behavior?
a) He celebrates it without reservation
b) He recognizes how it has isolated him from relationships
c) He sees no connection to his situation
d) He blames others for his predicament
5. How does the film show novelty bias affecting Aron’s risk assessment abilities?
a) It improves his decision-making
b) It has no effect on his choices
c) It leads him to underestimate dangers
d) It makes him overly cautious
6. Through Aron’s hallucinations, what does he realize about his pursuit of novel experiences?
a) They’ve all been worth the risk
b) They’ve created a pattern of isolation and reckless behavior
c) They’ve made him a better person
d) They’ve had no impact on his life
7. How does Aron’s novelty bias contribute to his initial response to being trapped?
a) He immediately seeks help
b) He assumes he can handle it alone based on past experiences
c) He gives up immediately
d) He follows emergency protocols
8. What role does novelty bias play in Aron’s pre-accident climbing history?
a) It makes him more safety-conscious
b) It has no influence on his choices
c) It drives him to increasingly risky solo adventures
d) It encourages group climbing
9. How does Aron’s understanding of novelty bias change through his ordeal?
a) He sees no need for change
b) He realizes the need to balance adventure with responsibility
c) He decides to stop climbing entirely
d) He becomes more reckless
10. What does the film suggest about the relationship between novelty bias and risk assessment?
a) Novelty bias always leads to good decisions
b) Risk assessment isn’t important for experienced adventurers
c) Novelty bias can dangerously override proper risk assessment
d) New experiences are never worth the risk
1. b
2. a
3. c
4. b
5. c
6. b
7. b
8. c
9. b
10. c
Moana provides a vibrant exploration of novelty bias through the story of a young leader drawn to explore beyond her island’s reef.
Through Moana’s irresistible attraction to the ocean despite her community’s warnings, students witness how our innate curiosity about new things can drive innovation and discovery.
The film demonstrates novelty bias through Moana’s constant pull toward the unknown – from collecting seashells as a toddler to ultimately becoming a master wayfinder – showing how attraction to novelty can lead to breakthrough solutions when existing systems fail.
As viewers follow her journey to restore the heart of Te Fiti, they see how her natural draw toward new experiences helps her discover lost knowledge about her people’s voyaging heritage and find creative solutions to her island’s environmental crisis.
Through its celebration of exploration and discovery, the film shows how novelty bias, when properly channeled, can become a powerful force for positive change, pushing us to look beyond comfortable but limiting boundaries to find answers in unexpected places.
1. How does young Moana’s attraction to seashells and the ocean demonstrate novelty bias in its earliest form?
a) She’s simply following her father’s instructions
b) She’s naturally drawn to explore new and unfamiliar elements in her environment
c) She’s trying to disobey island rules
d) She’s practicing for her future role as chief
2. What role does novelty bias play in Moana’s decision to venture beyond the reef, despite her community’s established rules?
a) It compels her to seek new solutions to her island’s problems
b) It makes her ignore all traditional wisdom
c) It forces her to abandon her duties as future chief
d) It has no influence on her decision
3. How does Moana’s attraction to novelty differ from Maui’s approach to problem-solving initially?
a) Maui relies solely on his past experiences and known powers
b) Moana is afraid of new experiences while Maui embraces them
c) They both avoid novel solutions equally
d) They share the exact same approach to new situations
4. In what way does Moana’s novelty bias contribute to discovering her people’s lost wayfinding heritage?
a) It makes her ignore all traditions
b) It drives her to explore ancient caves and learn forgotten stories
c) It prevents her from understanding her culture
d) It has no connection to this discovery
5. How does the village’s resistance to exploration represent the opposite of novelty bias?
a) It shows a preference for familiar, established patterns
b) It demonstrates forward-thinking leadership
c) It represents progressive thinking
d) It shows attraction to new ideas
6. When Moana discovers the hidden boats of her ancestors, how does her novelty bias interact with traditional knowledge?
a) She completely rejects the traditional boats
b) She combines her love of new experiences with her ancestors’ wisdom
c) She ignores the discovery entirely
d) She fears the ancient technology
7. How does Moana’s novelty bias help her approach Te Kā differently in the final confrontation?
a) She simply uses brute force
b) She relies only on Maui’s help
c) She sees beyond the monster to discover Te Fiti’s true identity
d) She follows the traditional way of fighting
8. What role does novelty bias play in Moana’s ability to restore her people’s voyaging tradition?
a) It prevents her from learning navigation
b) It helps her embrace and revive the unfamiliar practice of wayfinding
c) It makes her reject all traditional practices
d) It has no impact on her learning
9. How does Moana’s novelty bias influence her leadership style by the end of the film?
a) She completely rejects island traditions
b) She maintains strict isolation of the island
c) She integrates both exploration and tradition
d) She follows exactly in her father’s footsteps
10. What does Moana’s journey suggest about the relationship between novelty bias and innovation?
a) Novelty bias always leads to poor decisions
b) Innovation only comes from following traditions
c) Novelty bias can drive discovery and creative problem-solving
d) New ideas should always be rejected
1. b
2. a
3. a
4. b
5. a
6. b
7. c
8. b
9. c
10. c
Verse 1:
Got the latest phone in my hand
Already thinking ’bout the next big brand
That new app is calling my name
Though the old one works just the same
Like a magpie drawn to something bright
Can’t resist that new delight
Pre-Chorus:
But wait a minute, let me think this through
(Is it better just because it’s new?)
My attention’s like a butterfly
(Always ready for another try)
Chorus:
Shiny and new, shiny and new
Always chasing the next best thing
Before the old one’s even through
Like a spotlight in the night
Drawing moths into its light
Gotta learn to see what’s true
Beyond the shiny and new
Verse 2:
Starting hobbies left and right
Never sticking long enough to take flight
Download games I’ll never play
Chase trends that fade away
There’s that dopamine hit again
Making me forget where I’ve been
(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus)
Bridge:
Sometimes the best things
(Take time to grow)
Like gardens that need
(Time to show)
The beauty that comes
When we stay long enough
To let the familiar
Show us its stuff!
Chorus:
Shiny and new, shiny and new
Learning when to chase and when to stay
Finding balance in what we do
‘Cause sometimes old and true
Is better than shiny and new
Gotta learn to see what’s true
Beyond the shiny and new
Outro:
(Spoken with wisdom)
Remember friends
Not everything needs an upgrade
Sometimes the real treasure
Is right where you are
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