Decide and Conquer: The Ultimate Guide for Improving Your Decision Making, Second Edition

19. Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full? The Framing Bias

First umpire: “Some’s balls and some’s strikes, and I calls ’em as they is.”Second umpire: “Some’s balls and some’s strikes, and I calls ’em as I sees ’em.”Third umpire: “Some’s balls and some’s strikes, but they ain’t nothin’ till I calls ’em.”

—H. Cantril

The following story demonstrates the link between framing and decision making:¹ Two young priests were heavy smokers and somewhat troubled about this habit when they were praying. The first asked his bishop: “Would it be permissible for me to smoke while praying to the Lord?” The bishop responded with a resounding “No.” The second priest asked the same bishop permission, but worded his question a bit differently. He asked: “During ...