Cognitive Misers

In Susan Fiske and Shelley Taylor’s 1991 textbook Social Cognition, they examine three different models for social thought process. One of these models is called the “cognitive miser”. The miser is one who, in order to make a quick judgment, takes mental shortcuts when thinking through a social situation and fails to take into account all the information.

Often times in our lives, we can be cognitive misers when it comes to interacting and relating with others. Let me explain. Have you ever been cut off in traffic, had an interaction with someone where you felt like they were sharp with you, found out that an acquaintance was talking bad about you, or been betrayed by one that you trusted? My first tendency when such things happen is to assume that I know why that person did what they did. I take mental shortcuts. They’re a jerk…or their insecurity sickens you…or they just can’t be trusted. When in such situations, I am a cognitive miser.

What I find interesting is that I am not a cognitive miser when I’m the one cutting across two lanes of traffic, being short with a friend, gossiping about an acquaintance, or turning my back on someone. No. When I do those things, its because I have my reasons. I suddenly become a very dynamic individual. I look to the complexity of my intentions to justify my actions. I’m just having a bad day, or I’m frustrated about something else, or I’m angry at that person about something they previously said. I become the exact opposite of a cognitive miser when it comes to my view of myself.

Our tendency is to rely on our intentions when justifying our own actions. “I didn’t mean for that to happen…” or “How could I have known that I came across that way?” become our mode of operation. But with others, we can simplify them. They’re not complicated, just bad.

Its interesting to bring this dynamic of social interaction to the Scriptures and see how Jesus talks about actions and views those who acted against Him. In Matthew 5, Jesus flips the table on us as He talks about the Law. Jesus tells the crowd that hatred is the same as murder and lust is the same as adultery. Instead of allowing us to solely live by what we think are our good motivations, he shows us that our actions are infinitely worse than we could imagine. Thankfully, there is good news.

In Luke 23, Jesus has been insulted, wrongly accused, and is in the midst of an unjust crucifixion. His response to His accusers and those putting him to death was simple, but not in the way we would naturally approach the situation. Jesus prayed for them, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He views those around him through the lenses of grace. This isn’t letting them off the hook or sweeping their offenses under the rug, but truly wanting forgiveness for those who mock Him in His death.

If we stopped there, Jesus would just be a good moral teacher showing us how to forgive. But He is a Savior who offers forgiveness. We need to examine our motivations when interacting with others, and lots of times we are very well intended when things come across the wrong way. But often we aren’t willing to look into the depths of our hearts and see the darkness and brokenness that is flushed out in social contexts. If we view ourselves solely by our good intentions in these situations and not include in our view the reality of our sin, we miss the saving grace offered by Jesus to us. We miss the fact that he paid for our gossip, our betrayals, our unloving hearts. When we acknowledge these things before Him and others, we will see that we need more than just being let off the hook…we need forgiveness.

Not only so, but we also find that as His healing hand reaches into these situations in our lives, we are able to move past just being a cognitive miser in our view of others, and instead view them through the lenses of grace…not minimizing their wrong-doing against us, but forgiving them in it, because we know whose death has paid for all sin, including our own.