UNSW Sydney researchers are uncovering why adults often stick with choices that may not serve them well – and why children might hold the key to breaking free.
Have you ever met someone at a party who seemed a little distant, so you quietly avoided them from then on? Later, you might discover they were just shy or having a bad day – but by then, your first impression has already shaped your behaviour.
That’s cognitive inertia at work – our tendency to stick with initial judgments or decisions, even when they no longer make sense. It’s not a flaw in our thinking, but a very human habit that can quietly hold us back.
From buying the same brand for years, to persisting with an outdated classroom strategy, to avoiding new technology after one bad experience – cognitive inertia limits the options we’re willing to consider. As Professor Brett Hayes, cognitive psychologist with UNSW Science, explains:
“Our first impressions and experiences aren’t always wrong – but when they are, they can create cycles that stop us from seeing alternatives. We end up missing opportunities that might be much better.”
Why we get stuck
Professor Hayes and his team believe cognitive inertia works like a feedback loop. A negative experience leads to a false belief, which leads to avoidance, which means we never collect the evidence that might change our minds. He calls these cycles “learning traps” – patterns that individuals, and even whole organisations, can fall into despite new information.
The team’s latest Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery grant will investigate these traps further – exploring why they happen, who is most vulnerable, and how to help people break free.
What children can teach the grown-ups
Interestingly, children may already hold some of the answers.
“Kids tend to be more exploratory,” says Prof. Hayes. “They’re curious enough to try again, even if the first outcome wasn’t great. Adults are often more focused on avoiding mistakes, while children want to understand how the world works – even if it costs them a few gold stars along the way.”
That willingness to explore means children are less likely to stay stuck in learning traps. Researchers suspect that adults could benefit from adopting a more child-like curiosity when faced with everyday decisions – whether in the classroom, the workplace, or personal life.
Breaking free from learning traps
Previous studies suggest that breaking free from cognitive inertia is not easy. However, Prof. Hayes and his colleagues are testing new strategies to help. Their experiments will ask participants to complete a series of choices linked to rewards. The point at which people “settle” – even when better options exist – will reveal when inertia kicks in.
One promising idea? The power of collaboration. Sometimes, having another perspective is all it takes to challenge a false belief.
“In our party example, you might avoid someone based on a bad first impression,” Prof. Hayes explains. “But if a friend tells you that person is actually lovely, that new evidence can help break the cycle.”
Why it matters for parents and teachers
For educators and families, the research is particularly relevant. From teaching methods to parenting approaches, it’s easy to rely on what feels safe and familiar. But encouraging exploration – in children and in ourselves – may open doors to better outcomes, richer learning experiences, and more resilient ways of thinking.
As Prof. Hayes puts it: “If we can learn to explore more like kids do, we may be able to avoid getting stuck in the traps that limit us.”
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