We mistake prediction for understanding. In long-term relationships—romantic partnerships, friendships, family bonds—we develop the capacity to anticipate behavior with remarkable accuracy. We know what our partner will order at a restaurant, how our friend will react to bad news, which topics will trigger our sibling's defensiveness. This predictive skill creates a powerful illusion: that we … Continue reading The Illusion of Knowing: How Familiarity Masks the Opacity of Others
