Wrap

WRAP Decision Framework

Apply the complete WRAP framework to make a better decision by countering the four villains of decision-making.

Instructions

Work through all four phases sequentially. Each phase targets a specific cognitive bias that undermines good decisions.

Output Format

Decision: [What are we deciding?]

Context: [Key constraints and stakes]

W: WIDEN Your Options

*Counter: Narrow Framing ("Should I do X?" → "What are all my options?")*

Current Framing

How is the decision currently framed? (Often as "whether or not")

Expanded Options

| # | Option | Why It's Worth Considering |

|---|--------|---------------------------|

| 1 | [option] | [rationale] |

| 2 | [option] | [rationale] |

| 3 | [option] | [rationale] |

| 4 | [option] | [rationale] |

Option-Finding Techniques

• Vanishing options test: "If you couldn't do X, what would you do?"
• Opportunity cost: "What else could you do with this time/money?"
• Find someone who solved it: "Who's had this problem?"

R: REALITY-TEST Your Assumptions

*Counter: Confirmation Bias (seeking evidence that confirms what we want)*

Key Assumptions

| Assumption | How Would We Know If Wrong? |

|------------|----------------------------|

| [assumption 1] | [test] |

| [assumption 2] | [test] |

Consider the Opposite

For each option, what would it take to be convinced it's wrong?

Ooch

Is there a small experiment we can run to test this before fully committing?

| Option | Small Test | What We'd Learn |

|--------|-----------|-----------------|

| [option] | [test] | [insight] |

A: ATTAIN Distance Before Deciding

*Counter: Short-term Emotion (deciding when angry, excited, or desperate)*

10/10/10

| Time Horizon | How will you feel about this decision? |

|--------------|----------------------------------------|

| 10 minutes | [how you feel now] |

| 10 months | [how you'll likely feel] |

| 10 years | [long-term perspective] |

What Would I Tell My Best Friend?

If someone you loved faced this decision, what would you tell them?

P: PREPARE to Be Wrong

*Counter: Overconfidence ("I'm sure this will work")*

Premortem

Imagine this decision failed completely. What went wrong?

| Failure Mode | How to Prevent/Detect |

|--------------|----------------------|

| [what could fail] | [safeguard] |

Tripwires

Set a future point to reconsider:

| Tripwire | Action If Triggered |

|----------|-------------------|

| [date or condition] | [what we'll do] |

Decision

Recommendation

Based on the WRAP analysis:

> [Your decision and reasoning]

Key Safeguards

• [Safeguard 1]
• [Safeguard 2]

Review Date: [When to reassess]

Guidelines

• Don't skip phases—each counters a different bias
• "Should I?" is almost always narrow framing
• Look for the third option beyond the obvious two
• Ooch when you can—small tests beat big analysis
• Set tripwires before you need them

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