Different people Quote by Thomas Gilovich
““People are less aware, however, of another source of divergent beliefs—the fact that the same issue or situation is construed quite differently by different people, even people with the same tastes, values, and orientations. As social psychologist Solomon Asch noted many years ago, differences of opinion between people are not always linked to differences in their “judgment of the object,” but often reflect differences in the very “object of judgment” itself.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Heuristics and Biases in Everyday Life, 2002
People can see the same situation in fundamentally different ways, even if they share tastes and values, because they judge different aspects of it.
In simple terms: People interpret the same thing differently.
Key Takeaway
Recognize differing perspectives.
Themes
perception
judgment
divergence
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- family discussions
- political debates
- marketing research
Key Concepts
cognitive bias
social psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do your own assumptions shape what you consider the “object” of judgment?
- Can you identify when a disagreement is about facts versus values?
A Different Perspective
Differences may stem from deeper values, not just surface facts.
