cognitive bias
Systematic thinking error
A cognitive bias is a systematic pattern of deviation from rational judgment, where the mind takes mental shortcuts that can distort perception, memory, or decision-making.
Confirmation bias leads people to favor information supporting existing beliefs.
Anchoring bias gives disproportionate weight to the first piece of information encountered.
These aren't random errors but predictable tendencies built into human cognition—useful heuristics that can mislead: Hindsight bias made the outcome seem obvious after the fact.
Unjustified certainty in oneself
- Dunning-Kruger effectNovices overestimate their abilities
- self-enhancementMaintaining positive self-view
- false consensusBelieving others share your views
When refutation strengthens belief
- motivated reasoningBiased cognition favoring preferences
- reactanceOpposition to alternating current
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- echo chamberSelf-reinforcing information environment
Quality of being typical
- anchoringFastening securely to position
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
- mental shortcutQuick cognitive approximation
- rule of thumbPractical approximation, not strict
Adopting trends through imitation
- groupthinkConformity-driven poor decisions
- halo effectSingle trait skews perception
- horn effectBias from negative trait
- social proofInfluence through others' behavior
false consensus · spotlight effect · bystander effect · stereotyping
Setbacks sting more than gains please
- framing effectBias from how options are worded
- anchoring effectJudgment skewed by initial information
- decoy effectOption that steers choices
- analysis paralysisInaction from excessive deliberation
Assuming randomness self-corrects
- sunk cost fallacyHonoring spent resources irrationally
- illusion of controlOverestimating one's influence
Inability to recall early life
- source confusionMistaking where memory came from
- misattributionCrediting the wrong source
- false memoryBelieved but fictional recall
- suggestibilityReadiness to accept influence
overconfidence
Unjustified certainty in oneself
- Dunning-Kruger effectNovices overestimate their abilities
- self-enhancementMaintaining positive self-view
- false consensusBelieving others share your views
backfire effect
When refutation strengthens belief
- motivated reasoningBiased cognition favoring preferences
- reactanceOpposition to alternating current
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
representativeness
Quality of being typical
- anchoringFastening securely to position
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
- mental shortcutQuick cognitive approximation
bandwagon effect
Adopting trends through imitation
- groupthinkConformity-driven poor decisions
- halo effectSingle trait skews perception
- horn effectBias from negative trait
social proof · false consensus · spotlight effect · bystander effect · stereotyping
loss aversion
Setbacks sting more than gains please
- framing effectBias from how options are worded
- anchoring effectJudgment skewed by initial information
- decoy effectOption that steers choices
gambler's fallacy
Assuming randomness self-corrects
- sunk cost fallacyHonoring spent resources irrationally
- illusion of controlOverestimating one's influence
childhood amnesia
Inability to recall early life
- source confusionMistaking where memory came from
- misattributionCrediting the wrong source
- false memoryBelieved but fictional recall
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, remembering, memory retrieval
- psychologypsychology, psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, clinical psychology
- human flawsmistake, error, flaw, fault, failing
- Misconceptionsmisconception, myth, fallacy, false belief, mistaken belief
- behavioral economicsloss aversion, nudge, anchoring, heuristics, mental accounting
- behavioral sciencebehaviorism, conditioning, reinforcement, stimulus, response
cognitive biasrationality
Sound judgment quality
objectivity · rational thinking · sound judgment · clear thinking · logical reasoning
cognitive biasanalytical thinking
Systematic examination of parts
intellectual humility · open-mindedness · skepticism · slow thinking · metacognition
bias, recognize, biased, recognition, unbiased, recognized, cognitive, recognizing, recognizable