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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