Hunger can make you stupid

post by Dorikka · 2011-04-13T16:17:49.897Z · LW · GW · Legacy · 11 comments

When I originally wrote "When to scream 'Error!'", I was mainly thinking of bad patterns of thought or bad problem-solving strategies as being the source of the error. Since then, I've come to realize that my own most common source of stupidity is because I've neglected some comfort. I may be hungry without consciously paying attention to it, dehydrated because I've been living on coffee for too long, or simply have a headache and need to take an Ibuprofen -- as a result, I don't think well, get irritated at the fact that I'm not thinking well, and generally begin a death spiral if I don't realize why.

In hindsight, it feels obvious that I should take care of the physiological needs that I can because they're likely preventing me from thinking straight. However, I've failed to do this on numerous occasions and so thought it worth mentioning.

In summary: Whenever you're screaming "Error", I suggest you stop and figure out whether you're hungry, thirsty, tired, or hurting before trying to find a problem in your thinking itself, especially if you're not usually good at noticing such things.

11 comments

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comment by TheOtherDave · 2011-04-13T18:23:20.884Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

I often quote a friend of mine in this context: "I've noticed that when I get hungry, other people become irritatingly foolish."

comment by Alex_Altair · 2011-04-13T21:39:34.175Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

dehydrated because I've been living on coffee for too long

FYI, this is a common myth.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/health/nutrition/04real.html

Replies from: Dorikka
↑ comment by Dorikka · 2011-04-14T00:17:15.177Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Ooh. Thanks!

comment by Scott Alexander (Yvain) · 2011-04-13T23:20:26.413Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

On a related note, people make better decisions (for some values of "better") when their bladders are full. Go figure.

Replies from: TheOtherDave
↑ comment by TheOtherDave · 2011-04-14T00:11:22.912Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

On the other hand, one of the things that surprised me a lot when I was recovering from my stroke, was how much stupider I got whenever I had to empty my bladder/bowels.

comment by JoshuaZ · 2011-04-13T17:00:05.730Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

This seems similar to the link Sniffnoy recently posted about how judges give harsher sentences right before meals.

comment by Vladimir_Nesov · 2011-04-13T21:01:57.248Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Whenever you're screaming "Error", I suggest you stop and figure out whether you're hungry, thirsty, tired, or hurting before trying to find a problem in your thinking itself

If you learn to eliminate errors even under pressure, wouldn't that make you stronger?

Replies from: Dorikka, bcoburn
↑ comment by Dorikka · 2011-04-14T00:07:06.630Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Hm. I think that such a strategy might fare well in cases where you're trying to catch errors in your thinking itself, but I usually find myself simply lacking brainpower -- I probably make more errors as well, but the primary cost is that I don't work as fast, learn as fast etc. This sort of thing seems harder to eliminate.

I'm also thinking that the only similar hindrance that one might encounter if they were under (time?) pressure would be tiredness -- hunger/thirst/mild pain are solved in the short term by just adding a few things to your bag.

Replies from: NancyLebovitz
↑ comment by NancyLebovitz · 2011-04-14T11:17:56.526Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

Systema (Let Every Breath-- sorry, no time for links) trains mental focus while in oxygen debt.

↑ comment by bcoburn · 2011-04-14T15:38:34.003Z · LW(p) · GW(p)

It depends on what you're trying to do, working in bad conditions/under pressure is good for training but bad for actually getting things done. Ironically this seems to mean that you should work harder to have good conditions when you're under more time pressure/in a worse situation overall.