Furthermore, the “availability bias” can influence our decisions. This bias consists of giving weight to the information that is more easily accessible or that comes to mind more easily, even if it is not statistically representative or important for the decision. For example, if we have been involved in a car accident in the past, we may perceive the risk of an accident as higher than it actually is.
Cognitive biases can have a significant impact on the decisions we make. They can lead us to underestimate or overestimate the chances of a negative event, to choose the first option that comes to mind, to ignore important information, and to ignore valid alternatives. Furthermore, cognitive biases can lead to discriminatory behaviors, such as racism and sexism.
cognitive biases
Examples of Cognitive Biases in Everyday Life
There are many examples of cognitive biases in everyday life. For example, confirmation bias commercial property owners database can lead a person to believe that vaccines cause autism, despite all the scientific evidence to the contrary. Anchoring bias can lead a person to pay too much for a product because the starting price was too high.
How to Recognize Cognitive Biases in Yourself and Others
Recognizing your cognitive biases is not easy, but it is important to avoid making bad decisions. A good strategy is to look for information that contradicts your opinions, consider alternatives, and look at things from different perspectives. It is also important to be aware of your own biases and how they can influence your decisions.
Let's see some ways to recognize cognitive biases:
Discover your personal beliefs
Cognitive biases can be influenced by the way we perceive things and by our personal beliefs. For example, if we are convinced of a certain cause, be it political or social, we can fall into the trap of selective evidence, that is, the tendency to seek only the news that confirms our ideas and to ignore those that deny them.