The Rider and the Elephant

The Rider and the Elephant metaphor, popularized by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, describes the human mind as having two parts: the Rider (Reason/Rational Mind) and the Elephant (Emotion/Intuition), with the Elephant being far more powerful, representing our automatic, emotional responses, while the smaller Rider tries to steer with logic. When the Rider and Elephant disagree, the Elephant almost always wins, highlighting why willpower often fails and emotional alignment is crucial for successful change, alongside shaping the path (environment) to make it easier.