Let’s explore the Fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule. You may have heard the saying that to become an expert, the ten thousand hours rule is necessary. Indeed, if you invest 10,000 hours in a field, you can become an expert in that field. However, strictly speaking, there are errors in the 10,000-hour rule, and it can be said that the number of repetitions is more important than time. Let’s find out what the fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule is, and why the number of repetitions is more important than time.
1. Fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule : It’s neither wrong nor right
What is the Fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule? Becoming an expert can be considered the same concept as mastering behavior patterns in a particular field.
It’s true that investing a lot of time can master the behavior in a field better than anyone else. However, investing a lot of time does not necessarily mean habits are well-formed or becoming an expert.
The precise concept is rather the number of times the behavior is performed, and this is the crux of the fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule
1) Automated system through repetition: Hebb’s Law
Hebb’s Law means that the behaviors we repeatedly perform strengthen the connections of neurons in the nervous system and transform into an efficient structure.
Introduced by neuroscientist Donald Hebb in 1949, every thought, emotion, etc., that humans experience is not static but speeds up and becomes denser through repetition.
The behaviors we have repeated since childhood are not just behaviors but are imprinted in our brains, gradually becoming automated behavioral patterns.
Neuroscientists call this Long-Term Potentiation, and the photo below shows the process of automating behavior at the moment of crossing the habit threshold.
However, this process of crossing the habit threshold does not occur just by investing a lot of time; it depends on how many times the behavior is repeated.
Tip) The process of becoming an expert involves investing a lot of time, but strictly speaking, it is determined by the number of behaviors. The fallacy of the 10,000-hour rule emphasizes time over behavior.
2) Cases of the nervous system formed through repetition
Physical changes can occur in the brain through repeated behavior. In fact, depending on the thoughts and behaviors an individual repeats, different areas of the brain can develop.
Musician nervous system case)
In musicians, the cerebellum is often larger than in average people, and this area is associated with the physical movement of strumming strings on a guitar or violin.
Mathematician nervous system case)
Mathematicians have a larger amount of gray matter in the Interior Parietal Lobule, an area crucial for calculation. The size of this area is directly related to the amount of time spent in the field, and the older and more experienced the mathematician, the larger the gray matter.
Taxi driver nervous system case)
Studies analyzing London taxi drivers found that taxi drivers have a larger hippocampus compared to others. This area is associated with spatial perception abilities, and interestingly, the size of the hippocampus decreases after taxi drivers retire.
From various cases of the nervous system, we can see that the brain area related to a particular field develops according to repeated behavior, and if not used, it can weaken again.
Tip) People in professions inevitably perform many actions, and they become experts not just by the simple passage of time but by the frequency of actions.
2. Fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule : Frequency is more important than time
While the importance of repetition in behavior is clear, why the frequency of actions is more important than time might be confusing. Let’s examine the Fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule through the following cases.
1) Understanding the fallacy of the 10,000-hour rule through cases
Professor Jery Uelsmann of the University of Florida divided students in a film photography class into Group A and Group B, assigning high scores to Group A for submitting many photos and to Group B for the quality of a single photo.
Group A had to take many photos, leading to frequent photo shooting. Group B focused solely on perfection, neglecting unproven theories or methods and low-quality photos.
What was the result of the assignments submitted by Groups A and B? Surprisingly, high-quality photos came much more from Group A.
Students in Group A, by taking a large quantity of photos, naturally experimented with composition and lighting and tested various printing methods, learning photographic skills through mistakes.
This experiment showed that a process of learning through numerous actions and mistakes can produce high-quality results, rather than just seeking the best or ideal methods.
Here, we can understand the difference between motion and action. Motion involves planning and establishing strategies, while action involves actually performing. To achieve results, many actions are necessary.
2) Frequency Matters More than Time for Habits
When we talk about forming habits, we mean creating behaviors that can be performed automatically without conscious effort. However, the importance of repetition based on frequency is much more powerful than time.
As evident in the case related to photography, executing many actions quickly can be more helpful in forming habits than finding the best method through motion.
Just as shooting a large volume of photos led to higher levels, the process of automating habits is determined not by how much time is spent but by how many repetitions are made.
The concepts of time and frequency can be confusing. For example, it’s more important how many times you perform a specific action than doing it for 30 days.
3. Why We Only Plan and Avoid Action
In Korea, there’s a saying, “Habits from the age of three last until eighty,” which suggests that habits formed early can last a lifetime, often with a negative connotation.
Commonly, we refer to negative habits as ‘habits,’ implying that once habits are formed during childhood, they are difficult to change.
However, if it’s possible to form new habits to replace negative ones, changing habits from childhood isn’t impossible. The problem is, we humans tend to avoid action.
1) Brain System for Survival from Primitive Times
Our brain is set to prioritize survival. If it perceives a threat to survival, it activates the sympathetic nervous system, changing our body’s mode to flee or fight.
When our brain senses a lack of energy, it makes us feel hungry, urging us to eat soon. If we feel excluded from relationships, it can induce emotions as if something terrible will happen.
Especially since ancient times, being excluded from a group or receiving negative evaluations could jeopardize survival. Therefore, we had to be conscious of others’ perspectives and try not to be criticized.
However, these feelings stem from survival instincts passed down from primitive times, not based on accurate facts, and are maladapted to modern society.
2) Avoiding Actions to Avoid Failure
Due to the inherited tendency to value others’ opinions, most people try to avoid criticism. This makes it hard to accept failure, and being evaluated by others can be unpleasant.
For these reasons, people tend to avoid situations where they might face challenges or be judged. However, such behavior can hinder growth and lead you to avoid the life you want.
Additionally, continually planning without taking action can make you feel like you are doing something, but it’s just a state of readiness, and real change might not occur.
Tip) Regardless of whether we fail or what others think, to achieve the desired behavioral change, we must act and repeat.
4. Author’s Thoughts
The author has a history of forming many negative habits from an early age. Habits like not speaking up, using games to cope with difficulties, being indifferent to the world, and viewing the world negatively were repeated and have become ingrained.
However, such habits are not formed by one’s will in childhood. They are shaped unconsciously based on biological DNA inherited from parents, cultural and environmental experiences.
Those who grew up with difficult experiences may feel significantly disadvantaged and resentful because they have more harmful habits than helpful ones. But it’s not the fallacy of the 10,000-hour rule that’s the issue, but the circumstances that prevent one from acting.
Instead of feeling resentful, it might be more helpful to focus on what you want in life and what you can do now. Even if you have many bad habits, this process can also develop other strengths in you.
If you are struggling because of bad habits, try to hope and work towards creating good habits for the life you want! This includes all actions that do not help but provoke negative thoughts and emotions.
For those interested in learning more about habits, I recommend the book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, and if you want to change your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions, consider studying cognitive behavioral therapy, schema therapy, and mindfulness meditation.
5. Conclusion and Q&A
We’ve explored what the Fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule is and why actions matter more than time. It’s more important to actually repeat the relevant actions to form habits than just spending time planning. Below are some frequently asked questions and key points.
1) What is Fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule?
The Fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule emphasizes time over the number of actions. Although there is a saying that investing 10,000 hours in a behavior can make you an expert, it is more accurate to say that the number of actions is more critical.
1) What can be learned from Fallacy of the ten thousand hours rule?
Humans can feel as though they have acted just by planning or taking motions, wasting time without forming habits. We must take action and repeat.
2) How should we act?
Due to the tendency to care about others’ opinions and avoid criticism, we might avoid situations that challenge us or expose us to others’ evaluations. Think about what you want in life and your actions, and don’t hesitate to act. Don’t put it off until tomorrow; start right now!
► Information sources and reference material
“Atomic Habits” – James Clear / Business Books Publishing
“The System” – Scott Adams / Berry Books Publishing
– Be the Titan Brain
