Who are you? What do you believe? What cognitive biases do you have? These are big questions to answer, but necessary to consider before moving forward in your professional life.
Consider the people and experiences that have shaped how you see yourself, how you see life, and, most importantly, how they have shaped your biases.
- List and then describe a minimum of three things you believe to be true, such as the existence of God, right vs. wrong, morality, and what it means to be a “good” person.
- Explain, in detail, how you acquired these beliefs (including the other people or experiences that have influenced you most), why these beliefs are important, and how these beliefs will influence how you engage with people and policies in your future career. Do not simply say something like, “I believe in doing the right thing because it is the right thing.” You must really dig deep into your psyche and analyze your own perspective of the world; make your brain hurt!
- Most importantly, discuss at least two cognitive biases discussed in Chapter 1 that you might be most subject to and why. Integrate these into your three beliefs and analyze the ways in which they shape you.
