ByOnlinecourses55
Cognitive biases: the 3 mental errors you make every day without realizing it - techniques persuasion manipulation
Everyone, without exception, is prone to making errors of judgment. Often, these errors are not the result of a lack of intelligence or information, but of mental shortcuts called cognitive biases. These biases are unconscious predispositions that distort our perception of reality, influencing our decisions in a subtle but powerful way. Understanding how these biases work is crucial to improving our critical thinking and making more informed decisions.
Cognitive biases are essentially "shortcuts" our brain uses to simplify information and make quick decisions. Although these shortcuts can be useful in certain situations, they often lead to systematic errors in our reasoning. Think of them as preinstalled programs in our mental software that, while useful for routine tasks, can cause serious failures when applied to complex situations. Common examples include confirmation bias, anchoring bias, and availability bias.
Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and remember information that confirms our preexisting beliefs. In other words, we filter information so that it fits what we already think, ignoring or downplaying evidence that contradicts our ideas. This can lead us to make decisions based on incomplete or biased information. Imagine you believe a car brand is inherently bad. You will be more likely to notice and remember negative news about that brand, while ignoring or minimizing positive reports.
How to Mitigate Confirmation Bias: Actively seek out different perspectives. Force yourself to consider evidence that contradicts your beliefs. Talk with people who hold different opinions and listen carefully to their arguments.
The anchoring bias refers to our tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information we receive (the "anchor") when making decisions. This initial information disproportionately influences our judgment, even if it is not relevant. For example, if you see a T‑shirt on sale with an original price of 100€ crossed out and a new price of 50€, you are more likely to consider it a good deal than if you simply saw it priced at 50€, even if you have no idea how much a similar T‑shirt is really worth.
How to Mitigate Anchoring Bias: Question the initial information. Seek information from multiple, independent sources. Consider a range of possibilities instead of a single value.
The availability bias occurs when we overestimate the likelihood of events that are easily accessible in our memory. This usually happens because those events are recent, vivid, or have been highly publicized. For example, after a highly publicized plane crash, people may become afraid to fly, even though statistics show that flying is much safer than driving.
How to Mitigate Availability Bias: Consult objective data and statistics. Consider the actual frequency of events rather than relying on memory. Look for information from reliable sources and avoid basing your decisions solely on anecdotes.
Cognitive biases are not just psychological curiosities; they have a real impact on our lives. They influence our financial decisions, our relationships, our health, and even how we vote. Recognizing their influence is the first step toward making more rational decisions and avoiding costly mistakes.
For example, confirmation bias can lead us to invest in companies we blindly believe in, ignoring warning signs. Loss aversion can prevent us from selling losing stocks, hoping they will recover, even though the best strategy might be to cut losses.
While it is impossible to completely eliminate cognitive biases, we can take steps to minimize their influence on our decisions:
