Analogy

Complex phenomena can be difficult to grasp. We often refer to simpler concepts to make this complexity intelligible. For example, try to imagine an atom’s structure —  it’s impossible because of its microscopic size! And it’s difficult to comprehend something we can’t imagine because we lack a reference point. To picture an atom, you might compare it to the solar system. The nucleus is the sun and the orbiting planets the electrons and neutrons.¹ In this instance, we used the solar system as a source in an analogy with our target, atomic structure, to enhance our understanding.

Comparing two objects, two phenomena, or two words to one another as part of an argument or an explanation is known as an analogy. We use analogical reasoning as an aid to understand or discover things that cannot be easily mapped out or imagined. The concept that is being used analogously is called the source and the thing that is trying to explain the target. By transferring our understanding of a simple concept to a complex one, we more easily understand the target phenomena.² It is a popular strategy in science, as scientists are working with complicated structures that are invisible to the naked eye. In behavioral science, analogies are used to make decisions when there is a lot of uncertainty. Analogies are heuristics  — mental shortcuts  — that allow us to make quicker decisions.