Comparative Uncertainty Principle (CUP's)

The following illustration should help you to understand how this principle works in its most simplistic form.

Please think of either of the words printed below:

CAT or DINOSAUR

I would like you now to imagine that your chosen word is written in front of you in block capitals. Think about how many letters are in this word...

or if it’s easier you can simply visualise the item itself.

If I had been observing you as you did this, I would have been able to tell you which of the two words you were thinking of. If you were thinking of the word CAT, you would have had no trouble in

thinking of how many letters were in your chosen word. As such you would have been able to follow my instruction without hesitation. DINOSAUR, on the other hand, is a much larger word, and as a result I would have recognised one or more of the following tells: An extended look of concentration, a wandering gaze, a look of confusion or a general pause for thought. In short, there would have been some visible signs of uncertainty.

Ideal word pairings will consist of one word with five letters or less and another with seven letters or more.



See:
A Piece of My Mind: Michael Murray