Imagine you are asked to make a decision about administering a medical treatment to a sick population of six hundred people. You are given two options for treatment.
Treatment A: this treatment could save 200 lives.
Treatment B: this treatment had a 33% chance of saving all six hundred people and a 66% possibility of saving no one. Which one would you choose?
This famous experiment by psychologists Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman revealed that 72% of participants would choose treatment A and 28% treatment B. What is interesting is that treatment A and B are mathematically identical - statistically the same but this experiment revealed a clear psychological difference.
The experiment was then repeated with two different treatment options.
Treatment C: Would result in 400 deaths.
Treatment D: Would have a 33% chance that no one would die, but a 66% chance that all six hundred would die.
Participants overwhelmingly preferred treatment D, 78% to 22%. What’s interesting here is that treatment A and C are identical yet resulted in a significant difference in the response from participants in this study. What caused this? The answer lies in the way the question has been framed...
What is Framing?
Framing is the act of emphasising details that are critically important and de-emphasising the things that aren’t, by either minimizing certain facts or leaving them out completely. Framing is present in all of our communication - some form of compression is inevitable in any message to another. It is simply not practical to include every detail, fact and context.
How we frame things depends on our filters (beliefs, values, memories, attitudes etc) and our moods. The way we frame things can also create shifts in our filters and moods. So if you are finding yourself in a rut or need a change in perspective the art of reframing may help to shift your perspective.
Two Main Types of Reframes.
Context Reframe - Useful when you are being too judgemental. “I’m too...”, “She’s too...” A Context Reframe is a separate context where the same behaviour may look totally different. To compose a context reframe the question you need to ask yourself is;
‘What is another context where this thing could take on a different more positive meaning?”
Example; I’m not fit enough to keep up at crossfit ... TO ... the more I train at crossfit the easier I will be able to keep up.
Meaning Refame - poses an alternative meaning to the same event or behaviour. It is possible that our interpration of what is “true” is simple the result of our uniquely interpretive internal filters. To compose a meaning reframe ask the question;
“What else could this behaviour mean?”
Example; “When I am upset I eat too much.” ... TO .... I eat to feel better when I am upset - what else can I do to cheer me up?
When To Use Reframes
- When your beliefs or attitudes about an event or a behaviour is not serving you.
- Can help shift chronic negative attitudes
- Can help to improve decision making based on wider perspectives
- To accelerate your movement towards your goals and a better outlook
- Improve your self esteem
- Breaks patterns of assumed negative meanings
- Self empowerment
Reframing is a skill that needs to be practised and the more you practice the more quickly and effectively will you be able to use them to your advantage!