How does reasoning work psychologically?

Psychological reasoning involves several mechanisms beyond the logical structures taught in debate or philosophy classes. According to David McRaney, reasoning is fundamentally about justifying what we think, feel, and believe, motivated by a desire to be considered trustworthy by our peers. We seek to provide reasons that are plausible within our social network, ensuring our arguments align with what our peers would find reasonable 1.

Moreover, Hugo Mercier highlights reasoning is often skewed by cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias or my-side bias. These biases lead individuals to find arguments supporting their preconceived notions, regardless of their accuracy. This inherent bias is well-documented and manifests in various contexts from logical problems to mundane decisions, like purchasing a car 2.