Filter (Psychological)
Short Definition
A framework where people interpret reality through subjective mental filters; useful filters improve prediction, agency, and outcomes.
Expanded Description
In Adams' framing, people do not experience objective reality directly. They process events through filters shaped by bias, emotion, prior beliefs, and persuasive framing. A filter is judged by usefulness, especially predictive value and practical life effect, not only by abstract correctness.
He emphasizes a persuasion filter as a primary lens for understanding media, politics, and conflict narratives.
Common Filter Types
- Persuasion filter (framing, repetition, emotion, dissonance)
- Abundance vs scarcity filters
- Victim vs agency filters
- Simulation filter
- Moist robot filter
Persuasion Insight
Changing filters changes perception and response patterns even when external conditions are unchanged. This makes filter selection a practical lever for decisions and communication.