Author: Lee Anderson

The Rider and the Elephant

A small rider sits on the back of a huge striding elephant, one hand resting on its neck to guide it, lit in teal while message panels float nearby

System 1 and System 2 are both features of the human brain, and we need both of them. The elephant is going to go where it’s going to go. System 2 is the rider on top.

When we feel stress, the logic part of our brain isn’t fully engaged. Stress, distraction, lack of sleep, and small physical irritants all wear down the attention we need when a suspicious message shows up.

Your Body Knows Before Your Brain

A person at a desk with eyes closed and a hand pressed to their temple, lit in orange, while a large alert notification pushes in toward them

When we are tired, when we’re distracted, when we’re in pain, our brain’s attention is on relieving that pain. Cyber criminals will try to induce that stress. Your body notices before you do.

The Mindful Defender: How Presence Sharpens Our Security Awareness

A person with eyes closed and a hand on their chest, lit in teal, while message notifications drift away from them

Mindfulness has a reputation problem. It’s really the opposite of abstract: noticing what you feel while you read an email is the cue that survives AI-polished phishing.

Curiosity beats fear in the long run

Illustration of a person with a hand at their chin, curiously studying a message held at arm's length while other messages drift in the background.

Fear-based training works in the short run. It gets people to do what you want them to do. But it does not strengthen long-term connection, loyalty, etc.