Analysing your IQ
Please Wait
Remaining functional and curious in uncertain, complex, or contradictory situations without premature closure.
Tolerance for ambiguity is the ability to operate effectively without complete information or clear answers. Those high in this trait can hold contradictory ideas in mind, defer judgment when evidence is incomplete, and remain curious rather than anxious in uncertain situations. They don't rush to false certainty to relieve discomfort.
Tolerance for ambiguity correlates with both openness to experience and cognitive ability. Research shows that intolerance of ambiguity leads to premature closure and suboptimal decisions in complex environments.
Remaining functional while working on problems without clear solutions
Holding multiple competing hypotheses without prematurely committing
Being comfortable saying "I don't know yet"
Not rushing to judgment when evidence is incomplete
Tolerance for ambiguity means not making decisions (it means not making premature decisions)
Certainty is always better (false certainty is worse than acknowledged uncertainty)
Smart people always have answers (knowing what you don't know is intelligence)
Ask yourself these questions to evaluate whether you demonstrate this trait:
Can you function well on problems without clear right answers?
Are you comfortable holding multiple competing possibilities in mind?
Do you resist the urge to reach conclusions before evidence warrants?
Excessive tolerance for ambiguity can lead to paralysis. At some point, decisions must be made with imperfect information. The skill is calibrating when to decide versus when to wait.
Remaining functional and curious in uncertain, complex, or contradictory situations without premature closure. Tolerance for ambiguity correlates with both openness to experience and cognitive ability. Research shows that intolerance of ambiguity leads to premature closure and suboptimal decisions in complex environments.
Ask yourself: Can you function well on problems without clear right answers? Are you comfortable holding multiple competing possibilities in mind? Do you resist the urge to reach conclusions before evidence warrants? If you answered yes to most of these, you likely demonstrate this cognitive trait.
While cognitive abilities have a genetic component, most can be enhanced through deliberate practice and training. Excessive tolerance for ambiguity can lead to paralysis. At some point, decisions must be made with imperfect information. The skill is calibrating when to decide versus when to wait.