Bounded Awareness

Bounded awareness refers to the limited attention and perception our minds have, which causes us to overlook or ignore important information, options, or perspectives in decision-making. Despite having access to relevant data, people often fail to recognize or consider it fully because of cognitive limits, distractions, or mental shortcuts. This can lead to suboptimal choices and missed opportunities. Essentially, bounded awareness highlights that our capacity to be fully aware of all relevant factors is naturally constrained, influencing how we perceive and act in complex situations.