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Cognitive Biases: Difference between revisions
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'''Cognitive biases are systematic errors in thinking that affect everyone, often leading to incorrect conclusions when processing information from the world around us.''' These biases are usually the result of mental shortcuts, or [[heuristics]], that our brains use to simplify decision-making. When third parties with harmful intentions exploit these biases, it's referred to as "[[Dark Patterns|dark patterning]]." By understanding and learning about cognitive biases, you can better protect yourself from manipulation and their influence. | |||
'''Cognitive biases are systematic errors in thinking that | |||
== The Objectivity Assumption == | == The Objectivity Assumption == | ||
The best place to start to learn about biases is [[The Objectivity Assumption]] | The best place to start to learn about biases is [[The Objectivity Assumption]], which is the common held belief that one's self is absent of thought bias. It can often be quite difficult to accept that the mind works erroneously due to [[cognitive dissonance]] however, once overcome this opens room to learn about the various personal '''[[heuristics]], [[Thought Paradoxes|paradoxes]]''' and '''[[Logical fallacies|fallacies]]''' that make up our minds. | ||
== Types of Cognitive Bias == | == Types of Cognitive Bias == | ||
There are a wide range of cognitive biases which | There are a wide range of cognitive biases, the most important to know are those which effect our primary way of understanding the world through our senses, these are called perceptual cognitive biases. | ||
=== Perceptual Cognitive Biases === | |||
The world is incredibly complex, so it's natural that instead of critically analyzing every decision ourselves, we often rely on authority figures whom we believe are better equipped to make those decisions. In childhood, this authority is typically a parent, but later in life, it could be a doctor, religious leader, or other expert. This tendency gives rise to [[Authority Bias]], where we defer to these figures without fully exercising our own judgment. However, power often corrupt those we entrust with our decisions, making it essential to maintain our own [[Critical analysis|critical thinking skills]]. Being aware of this bias, and others that may influence us, helps preserve our personal agency and decision-making ability. | |||
* [[Confirmation Bias|'''Confirmation bias''']] - refers to the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, while disregarding or downplaying information that contradicts those beliefs or hypotheses. It can lead people to form inaccurate judgments and gain confidence to make flawed decisions as they may only consider information that supports their existing views and ignore important evidence to the contrary. | |||
* '''[[Availability Bias|Availability Heuristic]]'''<ref>https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11468377-thinking-fast-and-slow</ref> - people tend to use the ease with which they can think of examples when making decisions this is often compounded by the [[Survivorship Bias|survivorship bias]] which is our tendency to favour learning from winners. | |||
* '''[[Bandwagon Effect]]''' (aka ''Groupthink'' or ''conformity bias'') - occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. | |||
=== Egoic Cognitive Biases === | === Egoic Cognitive Biases === | ||
These are cognitive biases which are all based around maintaining the [[ego]]'s inflated sense of self: | These are cognitive biases which are all based around maintaining the [[ego]]'s inflated sense of self: | ||
* '''[[Self-serving bias|Self-serving Bias]]''' - the tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors while blaming external factors for one's failures. | * '''[[Self-serving bias|Self-serving Bias]]''' - the tendency to attribute one's successes to internal factors while blaming external factors for one's failures. | ||
* [[Fundamental attribution error|'''Fundamental attribution error''']] - an individual's tendency to attribute another's actions to their character or personality while attributing their behaviour to external situational factors outside of their control. | * [[Fundamental attribution error|'''Fundamental attribution error''']] - an individual's tendency to attribute another's actions to their character or personality while attributing their behaviour to external situational factors outside of their control. | ||
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*'''[[Sunk Cost Fallacy]]''' - the ego does not like to be proven wrong in its past investments. This fallacy occurs when a person is reluctant to abandon a strategy or course of action because they have invested heavily in it, even when it is clear that abandonment would be more beneficial. | *'''[[Sunk Cost Fallacy]]''' - the ego does not like to be proven wrong in its past investments. This fallacy occurs when a person is reluctant to abandon a strategy or course of action because they have invested heavily in it, even when it is clear that abandonment would be more beneficial. | ||
*[[Loss Aversion Bias|'''Loss Aversion Bias''']] - the pain of losing is psychologically about twice as powerful as the pleasure of gaining. | *[[Loss Aversion Bias|'''Loss Aversion Bias''']] - the pain of losing is psychologically about twice as powerful as the pleasure of gaining. | ||
=== Temporal Cognitive Biases === | === Temporal Cognitive Biases === | ||
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[[Energy frugal brain|The brain is the most energy hungry organ in our bodies]], so to save energy we have evolved shortcuts in our thinking to reduce cognitive load: | [[Energy frugal brain|The brain is the most energy hungry organ in our bodies]], so to save energy we have evolved shortcuts in our thinking to reduce cognitive load: | ||
* '''[[Halo Effect]]''' - it takes a lot of mental energy to fully assess another person's capabilities so people instinctively look for clues which point them in the general direction. This leads people to assume a person or thing is good in every way because of one good characteristic. | * '''[[Halo Effect]]''' - it takes a lot of mental energy to fully assess another person's capabilities so people instinctively look for clues which point them in the general direction. This leads people to assume a person or thing is good in every way because of one good characteristic. | ||
* '''[[Status Quo Bias]]''' - it is difficult for us to change long held beliefs because of [[cognitive dissonance]]. | * '''[[Status Quo Bias]]''' - it is difficult for us to change long held beliefs because of [[cognitive dissonance]]. | ||