High-Level Thinkers Rarely Make These 14 Common Mental Mistakes, Psychologists Say

Everyone makes mistakes, including mental ones. We’re only human, and human error accounts for a lot of mistakes, even if we’re careful. However, knowing better lets us do better—starting with understanding what a "mental mistake" even means.

"Mental mistakes are errors in thinking that can lead to wrong conclusions or poor decisions," explains Dr. Sanam Hafeez, Psy.D., a neuropsychologist and the director of Comprehend the Mind. "They often happen when someone rushes to judgment or overlooks important information."

She shares that common reasons peo…

She shares that common reasons people make errors include assumptions, distractions and biases. No one is immune to these snafus. But certain people are more prone to making these mistakes more often, whether that’s because you’re forgetful, you don’t pay attention to detail or your mind is going a million miles an hour. However, Dr. Hafeez and other psychologists note that high-level thinkers are less likely to make mental mistakes.

"High-level thinkers look beyond the obvious and try to understand complex ideas and more than just one perspective," she shares.

As a result, common brain errors that the general population might make are not ones that high-level thinkers make. Psychologists share with Parade the** 14 mental mistakes high-level thinkers avoid** (more often than not, at least).

14 Common ‘Mental Mistakes’ High-Level Thinkers Avoid, Psychologists Say

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1. Overconfidence

High-level thinkers may sound like the smartest person in the room, but don’t tell them that.

"High-level thinkers tend to steer clear of believing they know more than they do," explains Dr. Craig Kain, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist. "Because they value the principle of intellectual humility, they are far more likely to entertain the possibility that their thinking is incorrect or their beliefs are misguided."

He says you can spot high-level thinkers in management positions at work. They’re the ones asking everyone for suggestions and genuinely and intentionally take time to consider them.

2. Confirmation bias

Confirmation bias can occur when we seek out and interpret information that supports a pre-existing idea. Dr. Kain says that high-level thinkers avoid this cognitive mishap, which is a tall feat in today’s world.

"Especially in an algorithm-driven information society, it’s easy to only consume news and other information that supports what we already believe to be true," he shares. "Because high-level thinkers value the principle of intellectual open-mindedness, they actively seek out other sources of information."

He shares that this information might come from intentionally speaking with people from wide-ranging backgrounds with different opinions or varying their news diets to include diverse perspectives.

3. Making snap judgments

Dr. Hafeez notes that high-level thinkers are careful to steer clear of snap judgements because they know "it can lead to errors."

Dr. Kain points out that it’s challenging to avoid the urge to make quick judgments, not just because society has grown accustomed to instant gratification.

"Our brains are naturally designed to make snap judgments and decisions," he says. "It’s energy efficient and, at the same time, highly problematic."

High-level thinkers subscribe to intellectual thoughtfulness.

"They are more likely to take their time making a decision, to sleep on it rather than rush into it," he shares. "Only once they have gathered a sufficient amount of information, will they make an intentional decision or come to a definite conclusion. Also, they’re not above revising their opinions as new facts arise."

4. Pressure-based decisions

One psychologist reports that high-level thinkers also won’t bend to external pressures to make a decision.

"If you have ever tried to rush a high-level thinker, you probably felt ignored," states Dr. Michele Leno, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and host of Mind Matters with Dr. Michele. "They like to process, preferably not with a group. Even if they are part of a group, they require time to think independently, free of influence."

5. Letting emotion decide what’s true

High-level thinkers are actually rather level-headed.

"While there is something to be said about trusting our gut, high-level thinkers see that as insufficient. It’s not that they will disregard what their gut tells them," Dr. Kain says. "They just believe relying on only one source of information demonstrates a lack of intellectual integrity."

6. Running from difficult or uncomfortable information

If there’s anyone comfortable being uncomfortable, it’s a high-level thinker—and not just during a workout.

"High-level thinkers believe that shying away from difficult or uncomfortable information shows a lack of intellectual courage, a principle they very much admire," Dr. Kain shares. "Instead, they actively seek out problematic, distressing and avoidable knowledge."

He says that high-level thinkers choose to engage in challenging conversations and find the process of being confronted rewarding. Yes, seriously!

7. Blaming others for mishaps

High-level thinkers aren’t perfect and have the humility to accept that.

"They know that mistakes happen and that pleasing everyone is not an option," Dr. Leno says. "They will say, ‘My bad,’ before pointing the finger."

8. Going with easy explanations

"High-level thinkers appreciate the difference between an easy explanation and an elegant explanation," Dr. Kain shares.

He notes that high-level thinkers rarely stop at just the first answer that comes to mind.

"That would demonstrate a lack of intellectual perseverance, a principle they embrace," he reports. "Instead, they are open to numerous alternative explanations. Only after entertaining other solutions that might be true, do they settle on an explanation for a situation or an answer to a problem."

He says that the right answer might align with the high-level thinker’s first thought, but it also might not.

9. Overcomplicating things

High-level thinkers may sound like people who spend a ton of time in their own heads. While these people do take time to make intentional decisions, they don’t generally get caught in analysis paralysis and avoid solving a problem or communicating their choice. Instead, they strike an inspirational balance between intention and promptness. Here’s how.

"High-level thinkers try to simplify complex issues without losing important details," Dr. Hafeez says. "Overcomplicating can slow progress and cause confusion."

10. Taking things personally

High-level thinkers are human; they experience hurt feelings just like everyone else. However, one psychologist shares that they tend to take things less personally than others.

"They understand that most people’s behavior is shaped by their own stress and emotional capacity," says**Dr. Crystal Saidi, Psy.D.**, a licensed psychologist with Thriveworks. "They do not internalize their own worth based on someone else’s mood."

11. Catastrophizing

Chicken Little was *not *a high-level thinker. Look at how fast he catastrophized the "sky" falling!

"High-level thinkers tend to resist the urge to panic," Dr. Saidi says. "Instead, they gather facts and remind themselves that emotion is not equal to evidence. This calm approach helps regulate their nervous system and keeps problems from escalating further."

12. All-or-nothing thinking

High-level thinkers don’t think in such black-and-white terms.

"They embrace flexibility and instead of saying ‘I failed’ or ‘I succeeded,’ they see effort, progress and context," Dr. Saidi explains. "This type of mindset can lower anxiety and stress."

13. Over-generalizing

Heck, someone who thinks at a high level might find *this *story a bit annoying. After all, we’re making some generalizations.

"High-level thinkers avoid assuming one situation applies to all situations," Dr. Hafeez notes. "Looking at each case individually helps them see the full picture."

14. Mind-reading

High-level thinkers avoid trying to get into other people’s heads.

"Rather than filling in gaps with assumptions, they ask questions to clarify or give the benefit of the doubt until proven wrong," Dr. Saidi explains. "This can prevent unnecessary conflict."

How To Avoid Mental Mistakes Like a High-Level Thinker

1. Avoid on-the-go decisions

Dr. Leno explains that many of us sometimes resort to getting things done just to check them off our to-do list or accommodate a timeline. While understandable, thinking at a high level requires a bit more intention.

"Even if you are a procrastinator, thinking about what, how, when and where can offer the jumpstart you need to avoid mental mistakes," she says.

2. Connect before you act

Gut decisions have their place in high-level thinking, but the need for intention still applies. Tune into your body.

"If it does not feel right, don’t do it," Dr. Leno says. "If relying on your instincts feels like a foreign concept, you probably need to slow down, think and connect with your thoughts."

3. Challenge yourself

This one is the biggie (though doing the first two steps lays the foundation for it).

"We can actively challenge ourselves to think about things in ways we may not always be comfortable, which helps us develop intellectual curiosity," Dr. Kain shares.

He says challenging yourself might look like:

Doing something that pushes you outside of your comfort zone, like going to the opera.

Researching a topic you don’t have any prior knowledge about.

Watching alternative news sources.

Playing devil’s advocate with yourself (Dr. Kain says you can ask yourself, "Can I make a solid argument that what I believe to be true could be false?).

"We can develop intellectual perseverance by challenging ourselves to solve difficult problems involving more than a few steps," he explains. "Learning a new language involves a lot of time and cognitive energy, and it is easy to give up when language acquisition becomes difficult."

However, not giving up has a huge payoff.

"Having the fortitude to stay with it and continue to learn helps us develop the principle of intellectual perseverance," he shares.

Up Next:

Sources:

Dr. Michele Leno, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and host of Mind Matters with Dr. Michele.

This story was originally published by Parade on Dec 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Life section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.