Cognitive Biases Examples to Know for Intro to Cognitive Science

Cognitive biases shape how we think and make decisions, often leading us astray. Understanding these biases helps us recognize our thought patterns, improving our critical thinking and decision-making skills in everyday life. Here are some key examples to consider.

1. Confirmation Bias

   • Tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms pre-existing beliefs.
   • Can lead to distorted thinking and reinforce misconceptions.
   • Often results in ignoring or dismissing contradictory evidence.

2. Availability Heuristic

   • Mental shortcut that relies on immediate examples that come to mind.
   • Influences decision-making based on how easily something can be recalled.
   • Can lead to overestimating the likelihood of events based on recent exposure or vividness.

3. Anchoring Bias

   • The tendency to rely heavily on the first piece of information encountered (the "anchor") when making decisions.
   • Can skew judgment and lead to irrational decision-making.
   • Often affects numerical estimates and evaluations.

4. Framing Effect

   • Decisions are influenced by how information is presented rather than just the information itself.
   • Different wording or context can lead to different interpretations and choices.
   • Highlights the importance of perspective in decision-making processes.

5. Dunning-Kruger Effect

   • Cognitive bias where individuals with low ability at a task overestimate their ability.
   • Often leads to a lack of self-awareness and poor decision-making.
   • Can result in overconfidence in one's knowledge or skills.

6. Hindsight Bias

   • The inclination to see events as having been predictable after they have already occurred.
   • Can lead to overconfidence in one's ability to predict outcomes.
   • Often results in misjudging the predictability of past events.

7. Sunk Cost Fallacy

   • The tendency to continue an endeavor once an investment in money, effort, or time has been made.
   • Can lead to irrational decision-making by prioritizing past investments over future benefits.
   • Often results in escalating commitment to failing projects.

8. Bandwagon Effect

   • The phenomenon where individuals adopt beliefs or behaviors because others are doing so.
   • Can lead to groupthink and a lack of critical analysis.
   • Often influences social trends and public opinion.

9. Negativity Bias

   • The tendency to give more weight to negative experiences or information than positive ones.
   • Can affect emotional responses and decision-making processes.
   • Often leads to a pessimistic outlook and heightened sensitivity to negative feedback.

10. Overconfidence Bias

    • The tendency to overestimate one's own abilities, knowledge, or predictions.
    • Can lead to risky decision-making and poor judgment.
    • Often results in underestimating challenges and overestimating control over outcomes.