PSYCHOLOGY
The Cognitive Biases We Need to Outsmart to Be Better Humans
While cognitive biases can often be helpful in some situations, they can also lead us astray
“If there’s something you really want to believe, that’s what you should question the most.” — Penn Jillette
The human brain is an incredible instrument, but it’s not perfect. It’s been shown that we all have biases that affect our judgments and behaviors in ways that are often unconscious.
Biases can be anything from how we perceive a specific object to how we behave in certain situations. We all have them, some of which are more common than others.
However, knowing about these biases is essential to work on overcoming them and making better decisions for yourself and those around you.
What are Cognitive Biases?
Cognitive biases are judgments or ways of thinking that lead us to inaccurate conclusions.
These biases are often a result of our brain trying to simplify information so that we can make quick decisions, even if those decisions are not always accurate.
While cognitive biases can often be helpful in some situations, they can also lead us astray, causing us to make poor decisions or judgments.
Here are some examples:
Availability Heuristic
The availability heuristic is a cognitive bias when we base our decisions on the most readily available information.
This can lead us to make judgments that are not accurate, as we base them on limited information.
For example, suppose you were asked to estimate the percentage of African countries members of the United Nations. In that case, you might base your answer on the names of countries that you can think of off the top of your head.
If most of the countries you can think of are not in Africa, you might estimate a lower percentage than if you could think of many African countries.
Anchoring Bias
The anchoring bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when we place too much importance on the first piece of information we receive (the “anchor”).
This can lead us to make judgments that are not accurate, as we base them too heavily on the anchor.
For example, suppose you were asked again to estimate the percentage of African countries members of the United Nations and were given 10%. In that case, you might base your answer around that number.
Even if the actual percentage is much higher or lower, the anchor of 10% would likely influence your estimate.
Gambler’s Fallacy
The gambler’s fallacy is a cognitive bias that occurs when we believe that a series of random events are not random but are instead influenced by past events.
This can lead to poor decisions, as we base our choices on inaccurate information.
For example, if you flip a coin and it lands on heads five times in a row, you might believe it is more likely to land on tails on the next flip.
But, the odds of the coin landing on heads or tails are always 50%, no matter what has happened in the past.
Recency Bias
The recency bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when we give more weight to recent information than older information.
This can lead to wrong decisions, as we place too much importance on recent events and not enough on older ones.
For example, suppose you are considering investing in a company. In that case, you might place more importance on its recent financial reports than its reports from 10 years ago.
Yet, the reports from 10 years ago provide valuable information about the company’s long-term financial health and should not be ignored.
Hindsight Bias
The hindsight bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when we believe we could have predicted an event after it happened.
This can lead us to make wrong decisions, as we base our choices on false information.
For example, suppose you did not invest in a company that later became very successful. You might believe you should have seen the success and supported it early in that case.
However, it is often impossible to predict these things in advance, and hindsight bias can lead us to make poor investment decisions.
Social Proof
The social proof bias is a cognitive bias that occurs when we believe something is true or good because other people believe it.
This can lead us to make decisions that are not necessarily accurate, as we base our choices on the opinions of others.
For example, suppose you are considering investing in a company. In that case, you might place more importance on the opinion of an expert investor than on your research.
However, it is essential to remember that experts are not always right, and social proof can lead us to make poor decisions.
Halo Effect
The halo effect is a cognitive bias that occurs when we believe that someone good at one thing is also good at others.
This can lead us to make wrong decisions, as we base our choices on false information.
For example, if you meet a successful business person, you might believe he is also intelligent and trustworthy.
But, there is no guarantee that this is the case, and the halo effect can lead us to make poor decisions.
Actionable Tips for Combating Human Biases in Our Lives
Many biases are ingrained in the human mind. These biases can be seen in our everyday lives, from the clothes we wear to the people we choose to associate with.
The following tips will help you identify and counteract these biases in your own life.
1) Reflect on your own biases and how they affect your life.
2) Look for opportunities to interact with people different than you.
3) Keep an open mind when listening to other people’s opinions and beliefs.
4) Take a moment before reacting to someone’s opinion or belief based on their identity, instead of looking at it as an attack on your ideals or beliefs.
5) Seek out diverse sources of information to have more points of view available.
6) Be aware of your confirmation bias and make an effort to consider evidence that goes against your beliefs.
7) Practice mindfulness to be present at the moment and less influenced by past experiences or outside factors.
8 ) Try to think about decisions objectively rather than letting emotions cloud your judgment.
9) When making decisions, consult with people who have different backgrounds and perspectives than you.
10) Take the time to understand another person’s point of view before responding.
“Each of your brains creates its own myth about the universe.” — Abhijit Naskar
How To Become Better People by Fighting Our Bias Tendencies
- One way is to be more open-minded and understand different cultures and backgrounds, which leads to a more tolerant world.
- Be more aware of the media we consume.
- Recognizing our biases first and then working on them instead of letting them control us unconsciously.
- Exposing ourselves to new perspectives and cultures.
- Becoming more mindful of our thoughts and emotions.
- Asking questions instead of making assumptions.
- Practicing active listening.
- Giving others the benefit of the doubt.
- Taking the time to understand someone else’s perspective.
These are only a few examples, but they show that we can change our cognitive biases and improve how we think, feel, and act in the world.
We need to be better people by fighting our biased tendencies!
It takes effort to retrain our brains to think differently, but it is possible.
What do you think? Can you think of other ways to become better people by fighting our biased tendencies?
Let me know in the comments below!
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© Alejandro Betancourt, 2022. All Rights Reserved.
