The Truth About Always Choosing The Easier Option: 'Humans Are Hard-Wired To Follow The Path Of Least Resistance'

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Most, if not everyone, tends to take the easiest option. According to experts, this is because the amount of effort that a human exerts varies on what he thinks he sees. Meaning, a person is biased when it comes to seeing challenges as less appealing.

"Our brain tricks us into believing the low-hanging fruit really is the ripest," Dr. Nobuhiro Hagura says. "We found that not only does the cost to act influence people's behavior, but it even changes what we think we see."

A recent study conducted in the University College London includes 52 participants taking various tests that would ask them whether the cloud of dots present on the screen are moving to the left or right. Each participant answered by moving a handle on the direction where they think the dots are moving. As the researchers gradually loaded one of the controls, the respondents' judgments became different in terms of becoming bias. This is because they have avoided the one which requires more effort. For example, if the left handle was added with weight, most respondents will judge that the dots are moving rightwards as it's easier for them to move the handle on that direction.

Although the participants, according to Neuroscience, are not aware of the load that is added to the handle, their perceptions are changed automatically because of the adaptation of the respondent's motor systems. This has become more evident when the researchers asked the respondents to respond verbally.

Despite not moving the handles physically, they have resorted to avoiding the effortful decision. "The gradual change in the effort of responding caused a change in how the brain interpreted the visual input. Importantly, this change happened automatically, without any awareness or deliberate strategy," Dr. Hagura explained. Therefore, the study only suggests that the brains are hardwired to decide on things that are less resistant, thus explaining why most people opt for the easier choices.