Is there in psychology an explanation and/or term that describes the phenomena that exists where people perceive a solution to a problem as “simple” after the solution has been found? I have noticed in my many years of working with people that there are some who claim the solution to a problem was “simple” - and take great pride in this - but only after the solution has been found. Of course, many things seem “simple” or “obvious” after they are known.

Example: Fixing a car.

A mechanic needs to change a part A that only has two screws connecting it to the chassis. But he has to remove parts B, C, D and E to get to part A, all of which are time- consuming to remove. After replacing part A the car is fixed. The boss (who is a mechanic himself but with higher rank within the company) says that the repair was “simple” - just had to change part A.

Is that “oversimplification bias”? I don’t know if such a bias exists.

Is there in psychology an explanation and/or term that describes the phenomena that exists where people perceive a solution to a problem as “simple” after the solution has been found? I have noticed in my many years of working with people that there are some who claim the solution to a problem was “simple” - and take great pride in this - but only after the solution has been found. Of course, many things seem “simple” or “obvious” after they are known.

Example: Fixing a car.

A mechanic needs to fix a car the problem area of which he does not know “specifically” but “generally” and he has to test each part he removes. The parts are A, B, C, D and E. He has to remove parts B, C, D and E just to get to part A, all of which are time-consuming to remove (except part A). Part A turns out to be the faulty part and it’s easy to replace - just two screws. The boss (who is a mechanic himself but with higher rank within the company) says that the repair was “simple” - just had to change part A.

(Think an electrical system issue - battery, alternator, starter, starter relay).

Is that “oversimplification bias”? I don’t know if such a bias exists.

Is there in psychology an explanation and/or term that describes the phenomena that exists where people perceive a solution to a problem as “simple” after the solution has been found? I have noticed in my many years of working with people that there are some who claim the solution to a problem was “simple” - and take great pride in this - but only after the solution has been found. Of course, many things seem “simple” or “obvious” after they are known.

Is there in psychology an explanation and/or term that describes the phenomena that exists where people perceive a solution to a problem as “simple” after the solution has been found? I have noticed in my many years of working with people that there are some who claim the solution to a problem was “simple” - and take great pride in this - but only after the solution has been found. Of course, many things seem “simple” or “obvious” after they are known.

Example: Fixing a car.

A mechanic needs to change a part A that only has two screws connecting it to the chassis. But he has to remove parts B, C, D and E to get to part A, all of which are time- consuming to remove. After replacing part A the car is fixed. The boss (who is a mechanic himself but with higher rank within the company) says that the repair was “simple” - just had to change part A.

Is that “oversimplification bias”? I don’t know if such a bias exists.