Framing
Framing is a way of presenting information that influences its interpretation, emotional reception and decisions.
Definition
The same situation can be understood differently depending on the frame: as a loss, an opportunity, an obligation, a threat or an experiment. In the social sciences, frames help people make meaning of events, but they can also distort judgment when they conceal alternative perspectives. Conscious framing involves noticing how language organizes a response.
Key ideas
- The influence of description on interpretation
- Social and cognitive frameworks
- Context-dependent decisions
Practice and life
Before making a decision, rewrite the problem in three frames: risk, opportunity, and experiment. See how each frame changes your emotions and choice of action.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to consider your own frame as a neutral reality. It is also a mistake to use framing to manipulate rather than to expand understanding.
> The way you describe it can change the way you make a decision.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What frame do I use to describe this situation?
- How would the decision change with a different frame?
- Does language help you see more or less?