Default Mode Rules The World
How to see why things are how they are and how to change the status quo.
Although probably related, this is not about the Default Mode Network.
Do you put on the seat belt?
Are you stopping to make a choice every time?
Any complex entity, such as a living organism or a machine, has a context-specific Default Mode behaviour, which it exhibits under normal conditions of that context.
It would be easier to understand with a few examples:
Even though cars are made for driving, a car with its engine off has the default mode of occupying a parking space. The car doesn’t necessarily always stand in place when the engine is off, it can actually move if there is another force applied to it. But an external force applied to a car doesn’t typically happen often, and it’s outside its normal conditions. Hence, the car’s default mode is pretty much “just standing there”.
A hungry animal has the default mode of searching for food. While it doesn’t necessarily always search for food when it’s hungry ― e.g. if it is running away from a predator ― but if there are no higher priority activities it defaults to search for food.
Most people’s default mode to anything they strongly disagree with ― is anger. And yes, there are times and circumstances when they can behave differently, but typically the different behaviour is caused by a deviation from normal conditions.
You can apply the mental model of Default Mode to any human behaviour or habit, as it is defined by the autopilot System 1 thinking.
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Is your default mode in the morning to press the snooze button and drop your head on the pillow or to jump out of bed and splash your face with cold water?
When someone approaches you on the street, is your default mode to mumble “no, sorry”, face away and speed up, or to stop and see if this person needs help?
What’s your default mode at work? Are you setting goals and getting things done, or are you sliding into the comfort zone of doing what comes easy to you?
How about right now, when reading this post ― is your default mode to just read it through to see if it’s useful to you somehow, or did you actually answer the questions above?
The thing is, it is impossible to internalize a mental model without actually “trying it on”, so if your default mode is to “binge-read” the article and move with your day skipping the homework ― you might as well just stop reading about mental models.
Once you learn to see the default mode of things and people, you will have a deeper understanding of why certain things are the way they are, why people do what they do, but more importantly ― why you do what you do.
The Default Mode is especially powerful when applied to your Automatic Thoughts. In particular, it helps to identify if Negative Filtering is a part of your default mode. Overcoming Negative Filtering is probably one of the biggest factors on the path of becoming a happier and more accomplished individual.
“But until a person can say deeply and honestly, "I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday," that person cannot say, "I choose otherwise.”
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Understanding the default behaviour enables options for changing it.
To change a default mode behaviour usually requires changing one or some of its “normal conditions”. For example, if you want to change your habit, one of the best ways to achieve that is to design your environment.
Put your phone far away from the bed, so that you have to get up to turn off the alarm. When you close your laptop at the end of the day ― make sure the first thing you see tomorrow is your plan for the day. You get the idea.
Next time, we’ll talk about the Default Mode of organizations.
Until then 👋