The Level 1: Low Awareness Criteria
The Level 1 is low in awareness. I’ll show you the criteria to recognize those low in awareness.
The Level 1 is a person who is low in awareness. Low awareness is the product of an untrained brain. I want to make one thing clear: this post is not an attack on the Level 1. Level 1 exists in all professions, neighborhoods, countries, and political groups. They are contributing members to society. They are moms, dads, brothers, sisters. They help others. They are ever present and ever important to society in their own special way.
The Level 1
Two things can be true: the Level 1 can be an intellect and low in awareness. He can be grounded in logic amidst one issue, and appear absent of rational thought amidst another. Therefore, we are all Level 1’s to some degree. But a Level 1 does not have the capacity to notice or when rationale thought is absent, or why it is absent, for that matter. Someone with high awareness does. That’s a different post. Here are the criteria for the Level 1.
--The Level 1:
A. Uses 1 variable to measure, analyze, or form an opinion.
The Level 1 sees the world through a 1-variable filter. Ideally, we want to see the world through a variety of filters, not just one. You’ll notice that a Level 1 has certain variables they default to in order to make sense of what they observe and how they feel. Consider the “gender pay gap”. This has been debunked by a lot of smart people. A Level 1 might see the “gender pay gap” as a gender inequality issue. They will claim that any gap in wages seen while comparing genders is a caused by gender discrimination. Gender is the 1-variable filter they use to view this issue. But talk to any behavioral psychologist and you’ll learn that there are certain character traits people possess that make it more likely for them to get paid more. There’s science to support this. This conclusion is a product of science. But a Level 1 will be blind to these explanations and will only be able to see the issue through a 1-variable lens.
B. Is unable to recognize which problems are multivariate.
This is pretty self-explanatory. It mirrors the previous criteria. Some problems are simple, but most problems are complex- so much so that the smartest people on the country can’t reach a consensus for solutions. The belief that we understand the complexity of most problems is an illusion. Yet, a Level 1 strongly believes they do understand the complexity of most problems. They are unable to decipher which issues or outcomes are single or multivariate. Take the boarder wall for example. A lot of people do not support the boarder wall because it sends the wrong message to immigrants. The optics are not ideal. But wall supporters see it as a multivariate issue, meaning that the optics, which admittedly are not ideal, are merely a glimpse into the issue as a whole. I have found that those who oppose the wall do so on the basis of viewing it as a one variable issue, when in fact it is multivariate. Consider how many lives it would save, how many trafficked kids it would prevent, and how it would keep urban communities safer by adding a layer of friction to migrants.
C. Values intentions more than the outcome.
A noticeable theme with the Level 1 is where they consciously or subconsciously value intentions more than outcomes. This is often unintentional. The Level 1 means well. I believe valuing intentions more than the outcome it produces is the product of good intentions and partiality towards instant gratification. Again, this criteria is not always a product of conscious decision making. Most Level 1s do not have the mindset, experiences, or skills to think through the implications of a series of actions or a solution to a problem. If they did, they’d learn they don’t like the outcomes they’re creating. They stay locked on process and intentions. They value process, good intentions, instant gratification, and how it positively reflects self-image more than the outcomes, which are often sub-optimal. They find that out later- or don’t- because post-decisional dissonance.
D. Unaware of the principles of influence. Emotionally driven.
There are 6 pillars of influence, as outlined by Robert Cialdini in Influence. If you are not aware of the ways in which we are influenced, or how we are persuaded, you are more likely to be manipulated. Humans are programmable. Therefore, highly skilled people and institutions have the ability to move us where they want us. All of us are emotionally driven to some extent, but a Level 1 even more so. The Level 1 is emotionally driven and is unaware of the main principles of influence and persuasion that are used to manipulate them. Being emotionally driven is dangerous. For example, those high in agreeableness are exploited for their empathy. Those who are high in conscientiousness are exploited for their desire for order. This is typically bad for them, but good for political leaders as it helps them consolidate power.
E. Believes solutions must involve the problem.
One of the best ways to identify a Level 1 is to observe how they assess a problem. I am not talking about how they exhibit while doing so, but the solutions they propose or support for an issue. One pattern you will notice with almost every Level 1 is that they include the problem in every solution. Sometimes this is the most productive and efficient route (it’s rare). But most times it is the least productive, least efficient route. It often does not solve the problem, but wastes time, energy, and resources. Analogous thinking can be helpful here: suppose too many people are drowning in the ocean. The Level 1 would propose to drain the ocean instead of building boats or teaching people to swim. Go ahead, giggle. The Level 1 will likely not propose or support solutions that are not directly manipulating the problem. So many examples should be coming to mind for you here.
F. Proposes or supports solutions that do not solve the problem.
Society pushes a lot of wrong solutions to all the real problems. You’ll find that many of them do not solve the problem. Level 1s propose and support solutions that do not solve the problem. Sometimes, it is hard to know whether or not some solutions will work until you try them. But sometimes it is very clear, unless you’re a Level 1.
G. Uses imagination to connect dots that are not connected.
A Level 1 enjoys connecting dots that are not connected. This might be a different way to make sense of the 1-variable and multivariate criteria we looked at above.
Celebrities and artists are famous because of their high level of openness, which manifests itself as profound imagination and artistic ability. They are literally paid to let their imagination run wild. It’s not their fault. It’s their benefit. They are who they have constructed themselves to be and now they are rich. They have used imagination their entire lives to the extreme and it has brought them success. Their imagination never had to be checked, so they never needed to develop skills to balance their imagination in order to exist in society. Celebrities and artists are the dominant voice in American pop-culture, politics, and social issues. Millions admire these people and adopt radical imagination practices. We now have generations of Americans thinking like artists and celebrities. The imagination-dot-connectors. Not good. They see connections in things that do not exist.
H. Form strong opinions before they have reasons.
Every human forms strong opinions before they have logical reasons. Fear or high levels of empathy are typically the cause of this. A Level 1 will form strong opinions before they have reasons at a significantly higher rate. Spotting this out in the wild is fun. Whenever a Level 1 experiences a strong emotional trigger, they are highly susceptible to forming a strong opinion based on this emotional response. Then they need to identify reasons why they hold this opinion. This is known as backward thinking. Ideally, people will review an issue from multiple angles and then form an opinion. However, a Level 1 will do this in reverse about most issues. Cherry picking reasons in order to support an opinion is classic Level 1 behavior. You will find this fascinating if you’re lucky enough to observe this behavior out in the wild.
I. Views reality solely through the lens of personal experiences and the experiences of others.
The lens we use to view reality is important because it helps us make sense of what we see, as well as help us predict what we can expect to see. Our experiences, genetics, personality, etc. are the factors that determine our reality lens. A Level 1’s lens will essentially be constructed from personal experience and the experience of others who are in their group. Therefore, they will place higher importance on their own interpretation, or group's interpretation, of events and experiences. This is unwise because it does not leave room for what the person does not know.
J. Imagines they know someone’s intentions.
Sometimes we are able to know others’ intentions if we have a close relationship with them and have interacted with them for years. Think about marriage or lifelong friendships- you’ll be able to know their intentions sometimes. But typically we have no way of knowing what others’ intentions are. We perceive that knowing others’ intentions are something we can do, but that is just an illusion- a sort of default assumption our brains produce to help us. Nothing like that is possible. We can’t read peoples’ minds or get inside their heads. Imagining you know someone’s intentions is common, but it becomes a reflection of low-awareness when done repeatedly in public discourse.
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You now have an overview of the Level 1. Do with it what you will. The next post will provide practical guidance on how to deal with a Level 1. In the meantime, if you come across a Level 1 on the internet, leave a Level 1 hashtag with the observed criteria (ie. #Level1C) and walk away. Leave the link to this article with it.
This described just about every Democrat I know.