Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Cognitive bias refers to systematic patterns of deviation from rationality in thinking and decision-making. It is an unconscious mental shortcut or inclination that influences our judgments and perceptions about people, situations, or events.
Related terms
Confirmation bias: This term refers to our tendency to seek out information that confirms our preexisting beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence.
Anchoring bias: This term describes our tendency to rely too heavily on initial information (the anchor) when making decisions, even if it is not relevant or accurate.
Availability heuristic: This term refers to our tendency to estimate the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind, rather than considering actual statistical probabilities.