People often assume that because they think, communicate, or behave in a particular way, others do the same. Someone who prefers writing may believe that writing is the natural or preferred way for everyone to express themselves, overlooking the fact that others may think more clearly through speaking, listening, observing, or engaging in direct conversation.

This is a form of cognitive bias in which personal experience becomes the reference point for interpreting other people's behaviour. Instead of recognising individual differences, people unconsciously project their own preferences onto others and assume that their way of thinking is the norm.

The problem arises when these assumptions influence conversations, relationships, and decision making. A person may judge someone else's communication style as inadequate simply because it differs from their own, without considering that the other person processes information differently.

Effective communication requires recognising that our personal preferences are not universal truths. What works for one person may be uncomfortable, inefficient, or entirely unsuitable for another.

Our own way of thinking is a personal reference point, it’s not a standard by which everyone else should be measured. Understanding people requires us to consider their perspective rather than assuming they share ours.