February Birth Cognitive Bias (Mind's Quirk)

Birth Cognitive Bias (Mind's Quirk)

Splitting Bias

Splitting Bias (dichotomous thinking bias) is a concept originally proposed by psychoanalyst Melanie Klein in 1946, developed from a cognitive science perspective, representing a cognitive bias that classifies objects into 'completely good' or 'completely bad' poles, making moderate evaluation difficult. People born in February, coming into existence during a season where contradictory elements coexist simultaneously - the opposition of demons and fortune in Setsubun, the fulfillment and rejection of love on Valentine's Day, the harshness of severe winter and the hope of spring's signs - tend to have this dualistic thinking pattern reinforced. They draw clear boundary lines between things, find it difficult to recognize gray zones, and are prone to extreme judgments of love or hate, success or failure, enemy or ally. While this characteristic brings swift decision-making and strong convictions, it causes them to overlook the multifaceted nature of complex reality and makes it difficult to understand subtle nuances in interpersonal relationships. Psychological research shows that such thinking patterns become prominent in situations of heightened anxiety and stress, suggesting that February's temperature fluctuations and seasonal change stress may reinforce this tendency.

Features

Polarized value judgment system
Tendency to avoid moderate evaluations
Orientation toward clear boundary demarcation
Simultaneous experience of contradictory emotions
Sensitivity to seasonal oppositional structures

Personality

Clear and direct personality that prefers black-and-white judgments and dislikes ambiguity
Possesses strong convictions and the willpower to follow through on decisions to the end
Complex inner nature with intense love-hate emotions, harboring deep affection and strong rejection simultaneously
Temperament excellent in decision-making ability while finding difficulty in compromise and finding middle ground

Symbolic Meaning

Clear separation of good and evil, and the duality of choices in life
The extremity of seasonal change at the boundary between winter and spring
The coexistence of polar emotions of love and rejection and their tension
Traditional concepts of purification and modern difficulties of choice

Reason for Selection

The oppositional structure of demons and fortune in Setsubun forms the archetypal image of black-and-white thinking
Expectation of extreme outcomes of love confession and rejection on Valentine's Day
Rapid seasonal change from harsh winter to spring promotes adaptation to extreme changes
Intense temperature fluctuations become psychological stress, inducing simplified thinking patterns

Protection & Effects

Decisive decision-making and demonstration of action power through clear value standards
Establishment of mental pillars and clarification of self-identity through strong convictions
Acquisition of moral guidance and practice of ethical behavior through distinction of good and evil
Reduction of cognitive load and stress management through simplification of complex situations

Trials & Growth

Challenge to improve flexibility through recognition and acceptance of gray zones
Overcoming the risk of relationship loss due to extreme judgments
Understanding the value of moderation and acquiring balanced perspectives
Development of multifaceted thinking abilities and improvement of adaptability to complexity

Gallery

Splitting Biasのギャラリー画像0 — A person performing mamemaki bean-throwing during Setsubun. The figure shouting 'Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi' while throwing beans, with an oni mask on one side and fortune symbols on the other, expressing the clear opposition between good and evil.

Splitting Biasのギャラリー画像1 — Abstract symbol representing splitting bias. A black-and-white yin-yang symbol being torn apart in the center with geometric divisions excluding middle tones, symbolizing the lack of moderate perspectives.

Splitting Biasのギャラリー画像2 — A person standing on a bridge in February, looking down at a river half-frozen (representing winter) and half flowing with early spring water, their reflection also split between the two states, expressing the internal conflict of dualistic thinking during seasonal transition.

Splitting Biasのギャラリー画像3 — Hands holding two Valentine's Day cards - one with pure love symbols and the other with rejection or heartbreak symbols, representing the inability to find middle ground between complete acceptance and total rejection.

Splitting Biasのギャラリー画像4 — A surreal image of a person's mind visualized as a courtroom where thoughts are judged as either completely guilty or completely innocent, with the judge's gavel split between black and white, representing the internal process of splitting bias.