Psychologycalendar_todayLast updated: Apr 2026
What is Cognitive Bias?
/ˈkɒɡnɪtɪv ˈbaɪəs/
A systematic pattern of deviation from rationality in judgment. These mental shortcuts help the brain process information quickly — but often mislead us in complex decisions.
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Everyday Example
Confirmation bias makes you notice news stories that confirm your existing beliefs and mentally skip those that contradict them — even if the contradicting ones are more credible.
publicReal-World Application
“Doctors can fall victim to anchoring bias: if a patient's first test suggests one diagnosis, they may subconsciously filter subsequent evidence to fit that first impression.”
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Did you know?
Psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky pioneered the study of cognitive biases in the 1970s. Kahneman won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002.
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Key Insight
You can't think your way out of cognitive biases — they operate below conscious awareness. The best defence is building systems that force you to consider alternatives before deciding.
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