The Rationality Gap

The Rationality Gap refers to the difference between how humans naturally think and the logical methods used in decision-making or problem-solving. People often rely on intuition, emotions, or mental shortcuts, which can lead to biases or errors. In contrast, rational approaches emphasize objective analysis and logical reasoning. This gap exists because our brains are not always wired for perfect logic, making it challenging to consistently apply rational thinking in everyday situations. Recognizing this gap helps us understand why human judgments can differ from optimal, calculation-based decisions, and encourages strategies to improve decision quality.