The Scout Mindset

Do you want to see the world as it is or as you want it to be? The Scout Mindset challenges you to embrace truth over comfort and curiosity over conviction.

1. The Soldier vs. Scout Mindset: A Question of Perspective

Our minds often default to the soldier mindset, where the instinct is to defend beliefs and attack opposing ideas. While admirable in its loyalty, this mindset blinds us to facts that don't align with our worldview, leaving us stuck in inaccuracies. The scout mindset, on the other hand, is motivated by an innate curiosity and a desire to understand, mapping reality as it truly is.

The soldier mindset operates on emotional and social motives—thinking what we must to feel good or belong. Yet, this approach often leads to errors and missed opportunities. Imagine being so entrenched in a belief that you ignore evidence pointing otherwise. That’s the soldier mindset. Scouts, however, welcome evidence and shift their beliefs accordingly, valuing reality over false comfort.

When faced with conflicting information, acting like a scout allows one to approach problems with more clarity and less defensiveness. Think of it as adopting the perspective of an impartial observer rather than a staunch advocate for a personal narrative. It’s not easy, but it’s a transformative way of thinking.

Examples

• Albert Dreyfus's wrongful conviction exemplified the soldier mindset of the investigators who ignored evidence in favor of their narrative.
• Colonel Picquart’s scout mindset led him to push for truth despite professional setbacks.
• Superforecasters avoid clinging to wrong predictions and revise beliefs with new data, unlike many traditional experts.

2. How the Soldier Mindset Provides Comfort

The soldier mindset isn’t inherently villainous—it often comes into play because of the rewards it offers. For many, it provides social cohesion, a sense of belonging, and emotional safety. Letting go of deeply held beliefs feels like a risk to one’s identity or community ties.

Take, for instance, a person embedded in a strict religious group. Losing faith might mean losing relationships, isolating oneself from an entire support network. Choosing to affirm their beliefs over and over again becomes a social survival mechanism, even if doubts linger below the surface.

On an emotional level, the soldier mindset shields us from discomfort. When passed over for a job, one might dismiss it by saying, “It wasn’t the right fit anyway,” rather than confronting potential flaws in their skills or preparation. These mental defenses protect us from pain in the short term but limit our growth over time.

Examples

• A religious individual may silence doubts to avoid alienation from their community.
• After being rejected for a role, a candidate might insist they didn’t want it anyway.
• French bureaucracy ignored Dreyfus's innocence to avoid admitting their error and tarnishing their institution.

3. Why Being Wrong Matters

Scouts see mistakes as stepping stones to accuracy. While the soldier mindset avoids being wrong at all costs, for scouts, the ability to admit wrongness is essential for getting closer to the truth. Admitting mistakes creates opportunities to learn and self-correct rather than clinging to false beliefs.

Superforecasters exemplify this by continuously adjusting their predictions with every update. They aren’t committed to defending their original predictions; instead, they aim for accuracy regardless of past errors. This openness to revision makes them far better at anticipating outcomes compared to traditional experts constrained by dogmatic thinking.

Understanding mistakes as learning tools empowers scouts to adapt. When the focus shifts from “winning” the argument to refining one’s understanding, progress naturally follows. The process of self-correction is what leads to robust and practical conclusions.

Examples

• Lincoln admitted when he was wrong about General Grant’s military strategy, building trust with his team.
• Superforecasters outperform CIA analysts because they revise their predictions based on new insights.
• Colonel Picquart pursued Dreyfus's innocence, refusing to let stubbornness cloud the truth.

4. Scouts Are Willing to Challenge Their Beliefs

Scouts don’t just wait to be proven wrong—they actively seek to test their beliefs. Abraham Lincoln’s practice of owning up to misjudgments exemplifies this mentality. Admitting he’d underestimated Ulysses S. Grant required humility but ultimately earned him credibility.

In modern examples, individuals like science journalist Bethany Brookshire demonstrate this principle. After tweeting about how men and women addressed her differently via email, she went back to analyze her inbox. Surprisingly, her perception was off—fewer women addressed her as “Dr.” than men. Rather than doubling down, she shared her mistake publicly, prioritizing truth over pride.

Actively questioning our beliefs or claims creates a pathway for discovery. This mindset allows us to refine views, uncover new evidence, and, ultimately, make better choices.

Examples

• Brookshire revisited her inbox to test her assumptions about gender bias and shared her findings.
• Intel founders challenged their identity as a memory-chip company to successfully pivot into microprocessors.
• Galileo challenged conventional wisdom, inviting scrutiny into his assertions about the cosmos.

5. Cognitive Bias as a Lens on the World

Bias colors how everyone interprets facts. People filter information to match their emotions and preconceived beliefs. For example, Julia Galef found herself initially validating research that confirmed her ideas about the scout mindset while dismissing studies that appeared counter to her argument.

To overcome biases, conscious effort is required. Consider Intel founders using an "outsider test" to detach emotional attachment from their failing memory-chip business. They imagined what an impartial CEO would decide and took bold action to focus on microprocessors.

Unchecked biases limit clarity. However, thought experiments, like imagining alternative perspectives or reevaluating evidence from the opposite viewpoint, can help prevent us from clinging too tightly to flawed thinking.

Examples

• Galef reevaluated research citations that fit her message and discarded unreliable studies.
• Intel applied the "outsider test" to dismantle emotional ties to their failing business model.
• Status quo bias often prevents people from assessing new opportunities, like a job in a new city, objectively.

6. Constructive Thought Experiments to Fight Bias

Want to overcome cognitive traps? Try thought experiments! Galef outlines techniques, offering simple ways to combat ingrained biases. These exercises involve mentally altering your circumstances or switching perspectives.

For instance, the selective skeptic test asks you to imagine whether you'd trust evidence if it supported conclusions contrary to yours. Meanwhile, the outsider test removes personal attachments by imagining what a third-party observer might decide. Finally, the status quo bias test flips situations, asking whether you'd still prefer the familiar if you were already enjoying the unfamiliar.

These methods can help people break free from assumptions and view situations with fresh eyes. Making deliberate cognitive shifts is a scout’s most powerful tool.

Examples

• Use the outsider test to approach career changes like Intel reinventing itself.
• The selective skeptic test can stop you from trusting weak evidence just because it aligns with your beliefs.
• Status quo bias tests are great for decisions like moving to a new city or leaving a long-term job.

7. Identity Plays a Hidden Role in Beliefs

Our beliefs often weave themselves into our identities, making it difficult to shift perspectives. For instance, political or religious affiliations become deeply personal, leading people to defend them fiercely. Critics are seen as attacking not just one’s ideas but their very identity.

When differences in beliefs feel like personal affronts, biases grow stronger. The key is to shift identity from specific beliefs to identifying as a seeker of truth—someone open to refining their views as new information arises. This scout identity invites flexibility rather than dogmatic thinking.

By detaching identity from fixed ideas, scouts open themselves to growth. Being associated with curiosity and critical thinking becomes a source of pride rather than rigid certainty.

Examples

• Fans of rival teams often react emotionally to criticism because sports loyalty becomes part of their identity.
• Social media arguments escalate rapidly when disagreements challenge deeply held beliefs about music, food, or politics.
• Embracing the scout mindset as part of one’s identity allows for productive openness to change.

8. The Emotional Rewards of a Scout Mindset

At first glance, being a scout seems like a thankless task. Admitting you’re wrong can be uncomfortable. However, just like exercise builds physical health, scout-like habits strengthen mental resilience and long-term satisfaction.

After a difficult argument, reflecting and acknowledging error might hurt initially, but the clarity and growth you experience far outweigh the temporary sting. Similarly, learning to form better judgments ultimately leads to more constructive decision-making.

The scout mindset allows for sincere connections with reality and others. Replacing defensiveness with curiosity, you make choices grounded in reason rather than fear or ego. The rewards may take time but are worth cultivating.

Examples

• Developing resilience by practicing the humility of acknowledging mistakes.
• Building trust by owning errors like Lincoln did with General Grant.
• Achieving stronger interpersonal relationships through sincere, open conversations.

9. Navigating Modern World Challenges as a Scout

The modern information age often weaponizes discourse, creating echo chambers and escalating tensions. Scouts need to resist engaging in unproductive debates and instead align with people and communities that share their truth-seeking aims.

Seeking out enriching interactions can counter the noise of toxic platforms. For instance, forming alliances with blog writers or journalists who value evidence over emotion can deepen personal growth.

Focus on constructive action and forward-looking strategies, like making practical recovery plans or finding the silver lining in challenges. These tactics keep you grounded and prevent anxiety from derailing progress.

Examples

• Avoiding heated Twitter debates and seeking meaningful conversations with like-minded individuals.
• Turning failure (like losing a job) into an opportunity by developing actionable recovery plans.
• Finding joy and humor in life’s mishaps, like a bad date becoming an anecdote at a dinner party.

Takeaways

1. Regularly ask yourself: "What evidence could prove me wrong?" Then seek it out.
2. Embrace the “outsider” perspective; analyze your situation as if you were advising a stranger.
3. Detach your identity from specific beliefs and take pride in curiosity and truth-seeking.