# Explaining things like I’m five helps avoid the Einstellung Effect [[And Suddenly the Inventor Appeared]] points out that you can fall into “word traps” that lock you into the mindset of a specific discipline. The words you use can make the [[Einstellung Effect]] more severe because jargon can encode assumptions that may not be true in a new situations. [[Jargon is a mechanism for compressing information]]. A partial solution to word-traps is to [[Explain it like I’m Five]], which effectively decompresses information. When you break a problem statement open to look at each of its parts, you might realize an assumption that can be shifted. The first assertion of [[The Heilmeier Catechism]] is a bit like independent verification that this is a good idea. ### Related * [[Jargon is mystifying to people without the relevant context]]. * [[§Program Design]] * [[Naming things is Powerful]] * [[Suitcase Handle Word]] * [[People like to create shibboleths to distinguish their tribe]] * [[§Demystification and Thought Leaders]] <!-- #evergreen --> [Web URL for this note](http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/Explaining+things+like+I’m+five+helps+avoid+the+Einstellung+Effect) [Comment on this note](http://via.hypothes.is/http://notes.benjaminreinhardt.com/Explaining+things+like+I’m+five+helps+avoid+the+Einstellung+Effect)