Cognitive bias: A systematic pattern of deviation from rationality in judgment to create one’s own “subjective reality” from their perception of the input. An individual’s construction of reality, not the objective input, may dictate their behavior.
We like to think we are rational thinkers and we judge things objectively without bias. Others may be gullible to flummery, but not us. We are smart; we can see through any humbug.
As the Firesign Theater says: Everything you know if wrong.
Alas, Babylon! We are quite swayed by unconscious emotions towards thinking irrationally. This is based on our wiring to go along with the group and not be risk rejection for having maverick beliefs.
I thought it would be instructional and amusing to write about some common biases. Here are eight lovelies. Knowing them may enlighten you to become more conscious, thus improving your decision-making.
After all, us Jungians hold onto the Don Quixote-like dream Self-awareness and Self-development are still worthwhile pursuits. 🙂
The confirmation bias: you favor things that confirm your existing beliefs. Someone works with a person who refuses to get the covid19 vaccine. She read online the vaccine caused side effects in six women in England and some folks caught covid19, despite having been vaccinated. This proves her views the vaccine is not good to get. It is probably the other way around. She wanted (consciously or unconsciously) to find data to support her baseline belief and she dismissed any and all data that doesn’t support her belief. Alas, data that threatens belief is often so upsetting it is seen as a threat to one’s existence, often reacting violently.
Solution: painful as it may be, to get the ‘pros’ and ‘cons’ of any matter, including the arguments from the opposing side, prior to coming to a conclusion. When researching something, keep in mind the question ‘Am I merely looking for things to support something I want to believe is true?
The negativity bias: negative things disproportionately influence your thinking and decision-making. Yesterday I had a patient with plans to sell some property that was given him headaches, his wife is about the retire, and they are thinking of moving from the ardent heat of Arizona to a cooler state to be near their children/grandchildren. Not once did he convey anything positive about any of this. He listed only negatives: the hassles and money it would take to fix the place prior to sale and put the house on the market, the hassles of moving/finding a new place. Would he be burden to his children and how will and his wife get along cooped up in a smaller place? As he talked he almost managed talking himself out of doing all of this although to keep the status quo was conveyed as equally negative. I pointed out in everything there is also some positives: the benefits to be rid of two houses, the hot weather, and to be near family. I advised him to look at the positives of all his proposals. Like many people, he thought this means pretending there are no negatives. Not so.
Solution: after you have understandable negative ‘worse-case’ reactions to something, pause to find the positive elements to make a better-balanced decision what to do and think. If there is no positive, then look at the potential lesson/growth that can be learned from this negative experience.
The in-group bias: you favor (unfairly) those who belong to your group. One sees this all the time. Somebody does a shenanigan and it is condemned if the person is ‘not one of us’ or it is dismissed or even praised if done by a fellow group member. One of the few times I watched Fox News they were outraged Obama had reached out to North Korea ‘how dare he do that!”, only years later to praise Trump for doing the exact same thing.
Solution: Before forming an opinion, stop and consider how much you decide to believe/say/do is influenced by vanity viz. what will others in the ‘group’ feel if I don’t go along party lines? When you decide to go or not go with the group, you have done so consciously, not as a mindless myrmidon.
The spotlight effect: you overestimate how much people notice how you look and act. We walk into a party and we sense ‘everyone is looking at us” and is judging our so-called impediments, when in fact no one is looking at us, other than to see if we are recognizable or a danger. I recall a study in which the researchers made a group of social-anxiety-ridden people attend an event wearing bright yellow Barry Manilow fan T-shirts* . After the event, people at the party were interviewed: do you remember seeing a person wearing a yellow T-shirt? Most didn’t remember seeing anyone wearing such a shirt. A few remembered with prompting “Oh, yes, I remember now” but they could not remember anything other than the T-shirt was yellow, and less remembered the Barry Manilow photo.
Solution: Be assured no one is staring and judging you at a function – unless you are wearing a red MAGA hat and you want the spotlight on you.
Fundamental attribution error: you judge yourself on the situation while you judge others on their character. You lose your temper in the store; you attribute it to your headache, or having being under slept or ‘just having a bad day”. Others losing their temper in the store < they are assholes.
Solution: be more charitable when confronting awful behavior as perhaps it coming from someone in pain and not because they are jerks. This isn’t much, but it gives one a slim chance of maybe walking away less harmed for the process.
The sunk cost fallacy: the irrational clinging onto something that has already cost you dearly. Have you ever eaten a meal ordered in a restaurant although after the first bite you didn’t like it? Have you sat through a movie you realized 15 minutes into it, it was a bomb? Do you stay in a lousy job on the grounds you spent so much time and training to get here? These are examples of sunk cost fallacy. I recently counseled a patient who worked all his life to become an attorney only to realize he doesn’t like the law. He’s aching to get out, but dammit I spent all these years to become one. The sunk cost fallacy explains endless government endeavors like the Concord and the Vietnam War that ‘kept going’ despite all logic not to.
Solution: Face the sad fact a lot of time/energy/money has not translated into success, and it is better to cut losses than to go stubbornly on, hoping things will turn around or you will get used to it.
The curse of knowledge effect: once you understand something you presume it is obvious to everyone. Have you ever called ‘customer service’ for help with a form or computer matter and feel like the person is judging you how stupid you are for not understanding something so simple (to them)? My nephew, fresh out of engineering school, finds it amazing how is his uncles don’t know maneuver around a computer when it is so obvious – to him. At work I have to keep this bias always in my mind to always explain ‘the obvious’ to patients who may not have gone to medical school with thirty years of training to what is depression or a neuron or even how to eat well.
Solution: Put yourself in the shoes of the other. Try imagining they don’t know anything about your baby, but they can be taught, with patience without patronizing. If this keeps happening, consider your obvious-to-you matter ain’t so obvious to others. Can it be made more ‘user-friendly’.
The halo effect: how much you like someone or how attractive they are to you influences your judgment of them. Let’s face it. If we find someone attractive we tend to believe what they say and do as truthful, even when they are spewing rubbish. A lot of so-called influencers use their looks and charm to promote all sorts of bogus beliefs. Conversely, if we deem someone unattractive we don’t listen to them and judge their opinions more harshly.
Solution: Be mindful of your emotional reactions to the person in front of you. If you find them attractive, this will influence you to more readily believe what they say, and if you find them unattractive, you will be at risk for not taking their points as valid.
Spo-fans: if you found this worthwhile, I will do some more. I have heaps.
*As Anna Russell says: “I’m not making this up you know”
49 comments
September 24, 2021 at 2:50 AM
Paul Brownsey
This is all very persuasive, but, see, your photo reveals how attractive you are, so maybe I should disbelieve you…
September 24, 2021 at 6:38 AM
Urspo
That photo is not Urs Truly but someone with CDD (Center of Attention Deficit Disorder).
September 24, 2021 at 8:32 AM
Paul Brownsey
I meant the guy at the top, with the beard.
September 24, 2021 at 3:53 AM
Jennifer Barlow
I love these types of posts! Yes, more, please!
September 24, 2021 at 6:38 AM
Urspo
Then I shall do so
They are fun to write and they help me form my thoughts of things half-formed in my head.
September 24, 2021 at 4:15 AM
Todd Gunther
This was all very interesting and applicable to everyday experiences. Now I know that there are names for these concepts.
September 24, 2021 at 6:39 AM
Urspo
Go thou and do likewise.
September 24, 2021 at 4:19 AM
Dwight W.
This is an interesting post. I can see where the sunk cost fallacy could have merits , but I would make it work . Which sounds like foolishness still. Whether someone is really nice or is movie star handsome will hold my attention for an hour possibly especially if they are male but, during that hour I better find something else redeeming other than looks or niceness, because anyone can walk out any door at anytime. I definitely have to feel much more grounded by a persons goodness than by their perks or luxury options. Also any one who is too high maintenance it’s easier to be alone. Most all of these issues comes out when we can’t recognize, the thing it is that is holding us back. I believe with all my heart, “The best reason to see a psychiatrist is to get a truly objective opinion about your situation or problem” no matter what it costs in self esteem or money.
September 24, 2021 at 6:41 AM
Urspo
I will disagree seeing a doctor is a truly objective opinion. Often they are worse they believe they are objective when they are driven by bias as anyone else. It is hoped shrinks are on their toes, on guard, for this sort of stuff. The old-fashioned word is ‘countertransference” which isn’t used much anymore, more’s the pity.
Jung said ‘it is not a question ‘do I have a Shadow?’ but ‘where is my Shadow at the moment?’
September 24, 2021 at 8:29 AM
Dwight W.
I’ll omit the word truly. But someone who doesn’t know you and believes what you are saying is true, Will give you a healthier path to solving your problem. Countertransference sounds lovely as long as it’s like you said and the therapist isn’t crazier than you are.
September 24, 2021 at 4:38 AM
David Godfrey
But what if the other guy really is just an asshole? Many years ago someone said, stop for a moment and consider, maybe he backed over his cat on the way out of the driveway this morning (my brother did that once and called me to please go clean up.)
Do you have an answer to why good organizations, keep people in positions that are unsuited for? I have a couple of examples of nice people, who are incapable of doing the job they have, and have been there for years and years and no one wants to repossession them.
September 24, 2021 at 6:43 AM
Urspo
My father, an attorney often wondered about my field ‘when do you ever conclude the person is just no good?” I suppose we get closest with the diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which is psycho-babble for asshole at its heart.
The question you ask: I will address this anon. It is mostly due to a bias called the Dunning-Kruger bias.
September 24, 2021 at 4:39 AM
BadNoteB
Interesting to read the impact of bias effect at an individual behavioral level rather than the perspective of research design/statistical analysis… it only makes sense that it would be similarly confounding on both fronts but I’d never given it much thought.
September 24, 2021 at 6:45 AM
Urspo
Once upon a time psychology explained emotional non-rational reactions and decisions due to unconscious neurosis. Now it tends to see things via anthropological-driven emotions.
September 24, 2021 at 4:56 AM
Debbie W.
Thank you so much for this thought-provoking post. I feel as though I gained a great deal of insight into everyday situations and experiences.
September 24, 2021 at 6:45 AM
Urspo
You are welcome.
Go thou and do likewise.
September 24, 2021 at 6:14 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
We are all just too, too human, aren’t we!
September 24, 2021 at 6:47 AM
Urspo
Alas yes.
There is debate if these integral biases can be superseded through insight and conscious decision-making.
Unfortunately thems most prone to bias are of the the ones least in touch with them.
September 24, 2021 at 6:49 AM
Bob Slatten
Thanks for this. Now I’ll know how to spot these folks when I see them, and hopefully spot myself when I behave and react this way.
September 24, 2021 at 6:50 AM
Urspo
I hope you can, not that you are any better/worse than others with these things. I have hope the more one is aware of the inherent bias the more likely you will act/think more wisely.
September 24, 2021 at 6:55 AM
wickedhamster
“Am I merely looking for things to support something I want to believe is true?” Of course I am, ya silly! 😁
September 24, 2021 at 7:05 AM
Urspo
Don’t we all.
This morning I heard the news the ridiculous recount of votes here in Maricopa County once again – for the third time – found the election was won by Biden. This time they found the vote was slightly off and Trump lost by a little more than in the first two counts.
A sane person would be man-enough to say ‘we were wrong” . I will be highly surprised if thems who led this nonsense admit such. Chances are they will still refuse the facts.
I hope the county sues them for the time and money lost in this horse-crap.
September 25, 2021 at 6:07 AM
wickedhamster
So when does/did this denial of reality become psychosis?
September 24, 2021 at 7:15 AM
jenn
I found this very interesting, and “diagnosed” a few people in my life -haha. I think being self-aware is important and marvel at those who haven’t a clue how they are behaving and continue to make the same errors over and over again. (and yes, I “diagnosed” myself, too. Oh dear.) -Jenn
September 24, 2021 at 7:41 AM
Urspo
“Nothing needs reforming so much as other people’s habits” – Mark Twain.
September 24, 2021 at 7:23 AM
Robzilla
I loved this post! The first one reminded me of Trump and his lackeys. No matter how many times they sue or recount, he got his ass kicked last November.
That last one wounded me. I can think of a number of times I was led astray by good looking and/or charismatic people. Thankfully, I’m not a mark anymore.
September 24, 2021 at 7:44 AM
Urspo
The last one I get to use to my advantage is a bad way. I know I get patients who want a white man ‘and not some other type” as a doctor. With this sense of ‘one of us” they are more likely to listen and do what I recommend, even if it is the same thing any other doctor (not like myself) would say.
Then there is the cognitive dissidence they experience I see in them when they get the ‘white man’ but he’s light in the loafers. There is a not nice part of me smiles to see them squirm in this dilemma.
September 24, 2021 at 7:30 AM
Glenda
Yes, I did find this post worthwhile. Depth with a side of wit. Please do more.
September 24, 2021 at 7:45 AM
Urspo
Righto then I shall.
September 24, 2021 at 7:52 AM
spwilcen
I, Sir Urspo, found the characterizations revealing and suggested recoveries entirely logical. Now to recognize the two I most usually am guilty of when I am mid-fault and try sincerely to apply your suggestions. Thank you.
September 24, 2021 at 8:18 AM
Urspo
Keep in mind we all do these sort of things. One must be always cognizant of their potential activity lest we think and do foolish things like listen to some charismatic leader tell us falsehoods based on us vs. them politics.
Happily this sort of thing doesn’t happen much anymore.
September 24, 2021 at 8:27 AM
Parnassus
After reading this post I am ready to hang out my own shingle. For your next effort perhaps you can tell us how to fill out prescription forms. Seriously, I am going to reread this at leisure and think about all these concepts.
–Jim
September 24, 2021 at 8:32 AM
Urspo
I am still working on how to fill out prescriptions as the EHR got updated with all sorts of new extras and alerts to the point I can’t find anything.
I am glad you liked the concepts; there are a lot more of them.
I will post some more anon.
September 24, 2021 at 10:06 AM
jefferyrn
Thank for this post. It helps me understand my stupid relative, even it I can’t fix them. Of course some of this applies to me as well. 😉
September 24, 2021 at 11:20 AM
Urspo
It applies to us all. It is hoped we are aware of it enough to not act on it without first thinking things through.
September 24, 2021 at 11:55 AM
Richard Portman
Alas, i suffer from all of these. But nobody is caring about me , so I’m free to work it out on my own. Probably i will always be this way.
What i really miss is going around without fear of covid and republicans. This used to be a good place for weirdos, but now i see that it is difficult.
September 24, 2021 at 12:25 PM
Urspo
Do keep in mind these biases are universal; we all got’em. They are there as they helped us form bonds/groups and survived. To some extent they still do have some purpose. Yes you will always be ‘that way’ as well all will be.
We need only be mindful of their existence and not have them dictate our decision making.
September 24, 2021 at 2:06 PM
Gigi Rambles
Very interesting reading! I will be saving this information for when I have certain conversations with a certain someone. It’s eye-opening to realize that we all seem to have them…
September 24, 2021 at 3:27 PM
Urspo
one of my pleasures of work is seeing a patient ‘connecting the dots’ to an insight towards what’s happening and seeing them looking almost liberated as if they had solved a long time puzzle and have won a prize.
September 24, 2021 at 3:18 PM
Cheryle B.
First time commenter here… learned a lot and look forward to more.
September 24, 2021 at 3:27 PM
Urspo
Thank you!
I hope you will be back when I do another set, probably in a week I reckon.
September 24, 2021 at 6:05 PM
Sam
Oh the influencers! Yes, I have been influenced. The sunk cost fallacy is one I think I am prone to as well.
September 24, 2021 at 8:23 PM
Urspo
Haven’t we all.
I have several times realized where I am am/what I am doing is a deadend and I could stay or cut my losses. Happily I have chosen the leave; I have not regretted any.
September 24, 2021 at 6:09 PM
Pipistrello
Do you think the halo effect is a modern phenomenon? Does it only appear in your more recent diagnostics kit? As an example, I’m always struck by the quaint footage of early rock & roller popstars who, by and large, were terribly plain by today’s standards – snaggle-toothed and geeky glasses and granddad’s fashion sense &c – and yet they squarely fell into the camp that we now call Influencer. Telegenicity is a prerequisite for this kind of career now, so when & why did that change?
September 24, 2021 at 8:24 PM
Urspo
I don’t know if the halo effect is modern or not.
I remember a fairy tale that points out the beautiful one turns out to be the bad one, despite his looks. so The concept is an old one.
September 24, 2021 at 9:57 PM
Will Jay
Swoon! You had me at the Anna Russell quote.
September 25, 2021 at 8:58 AM
Urspo
She is a dear !
September 24, 2021 at 10:29 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I have know people who refuse to go bowling because they do not like everyone looking at them. I cannot convince the person no one looks at them!
Calling customer service makes me nuts when a person talks to me like i am the village idiot. I have been known to call back and complain about that person.
September 25, 2021 at 9:02 AM
Urspo
Poor things. They are succumbing to The Spotlight Effect. I surmise this is even more so in a bowling alley as everyone is focused on the game/their group, hardly a glance towards the others.
The service calls indeed often have The Curse of Knowledge Effect”. They know things inside and out and the callers do not.