Liking and Loving Tendency
The tendency to ignore the faults of, and comply with the wishes of, the people and things we like or love — and to distort other facts to facilitate that affection. One of Charlie Munger’s 25 causes of human misjudgment.
Examples
- Overlooking obvious flaws in a partner, child, or mentor
- Buying a product because it is endorsed by someone you admire
- Trusting a charismatic founder’s projections without scrutiny
Why It Happens
Humans are wired to seek and return affection. Liking creates a feedback loop: we admire those we like, and admiration deepens liking, which lowers our critical guard toward them and anything associated with them.
How to Counteract
- Separate your assessment of the person from your assessment of their claim or product
- Ask “Would I accept this evidence if it came from someone I disliked?”
- Seek disconfirming evidence specifically about people and things you favor