Cognitive Biases
Your brain is fast and clever — but it takes SHORTCUTS (heuristics) that sometimes lead to errors. These systematic errors are called COGNITIVE BIASES. Knowing them helps you think more clearly. Daniel Kahneman won a Nobel Prize for this research.
Common biases. CONFIRMATION BIAS: seeking info that confirms what you already believe. AVAILABILITY HEURISTIC: judging frequency by how easily examples come to mind (plane crashes feel common because they're vivid in news). ANCHORING: the first number you hear influences your estimate. SUNK COST FALLACY: continuing because you've already invested. DUNNING-KRUGER EFFECT: the more incompetent we are, the more confident we feel. HINDSIGHT BIAS: thinking past events were more predictable than they were.
You read a news article about a shark attack and immediately worry about swimming. The bias at work is:
Reducing biases. ASK FOR EVIDENCE — actively look for info that contradicts your view. SLOW DOWN — Kahneman's "System 2" thinking is slower but more accurate. CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES. CHECK BASE RATES. DISCUSS with others who think differently. You can't eliminate biases, but you can reduce their grip.
Catch Yourself
In the next 24 hours, catch yourself making a snap judgment. Pause. Ask: which bias might be at play? Just noticing reduces error.
Cognitive biases are universal — but knowing them gives you an edge. The most rational thinkers know they're irrational and account for it.
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