Learn more about technologyandthefuture with this collection
How to overcome fear of rejection
How to embrace vulnerability
Why vulnerability is important for personal growth
We’re reluctant to pivot from a strategy in which we’ve already invested so much time and energy.
Example: You keep watching the movie or reading the book even though it sucks.
205
1.3K reads
MORE IDEAS ON THIS
When your self-perception changes in response to a leading question.
Example: You call in sick from work, and your boss asks, “How did you get COVID?”
194
754 reads
Doing a favor for someone else makes us more likely to do more versus returning a favor they did for us.
Example: You didn’t like Brad at first, but after he asked for your advice, you've been looking for more ways to help him.
205
752 reads
The overestimation that only bad things will happen.
Example: “It can only get worse from here!”
194
737 reads
We call others out for biases while insisting we have none.
Example: “I’m not biased; you are.”
201
821 reads
Believing a random event is more or less likely to happen based on preceding events.
Example: The roulette ball landed on black the last four times, so you decide to put everything on red.
197
1.16K reads
We spend inordinate amounts of time and effort on trivial issues while ignoring the ones that matter.
Example: The mayor devotes an entire committee to keeping the sidewalk clean but does nothing to help the homeless.
204
769 reads
We tend to recall interrupted tasks more than completed ones.
Example: Despite earning perfect marks in his annual company review, Bill fixates on that one project he dropped the ball on and feels guilty every time he comes to work.
208
738 reads
Our tendency to see patterns in randomness.
Example: “That cloud looks like a rider on horseback.”
198
741 reads
Collective beliefs grow stronger the more people parrot them.
Example: A study linking vaccines to autism (despite being disproved) compels many to avoid them altogether.
202
1.68K reads
We tend to value things more when we have a part in their creation.
Example: “Isn’t this a beautiful coffee table? I put it together myself!”
204
780 reads
We would rather nip small risks in the bud even when another strategy would mitigate overall risk.
Example: You opt for that sugar-free soda, not realizing the artificial sweeteners it contains might actually be worse for you.
194
1.07K reads
The tendency to put our faith in authority figures.
Example: “The President said it, so it must be true!”
199
898 reads
We perceive time differently when under stress or trauma.
Example: “When the robber pulled a gun on me, everything seemed to stop.”
204
834 reads
We take comfort in consistency and see any disruption as a burden.
Example: Despite being in a toxic relationship, Jack doesn’t want to go through the trouble of breaking up (and going on first dates again).
209
1.4K reads
The tendency to interpret the same information differently depending on context.
Example: You perceive wine as better tasting when it’s served in a crystal glass versus a plastic cup.
205
1.03K reads
We fall back on surface-level beliefs about a group instead of looking at individuals within that group.
Example: “That guy with the tie-dye T-shirt must be a pothead.”
198
968 reads
We view our ingroups as diverse and outgroups as all the same.
Example: Brad doesn’t own a gun and assumes anyone who does has violent tendencies.
201
916 reads
The power of the mind to bring about the desired effect from an ineffective treatment.
Example: In a clinical trial, 80% of those who took a sugar pill reported signs of improvement.
197
838 reads
Focusing on successes and ignoring failures.
Example: You assume entrepreneurship is easy because all you see are successful founders in magazines.
201
837 reads
We are less likely to intervene in a bad situation when there are more people around.
Example: Everyone just watched instead of calling 911 when the bar fight turned ugly.
200
724 reads
We think nostalgically about the past and see the world going downhill from there.
Example: “Back then, we never even thought about locking our doors!”
203
1.94K reads
CURATED FROM
This is the second part of 50 cognitive biases, as tweeted by Elon Musk. These are a must read for understanding human behaviour, including our own.
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More like this
It happens when someone continues in a course of action, even if evidence shows that it's a mistake.
Common phrase: "We've always done it this way, so we'll keep doing it this way." "I've already invested so much..."
People continue to invest in a decision or project based on the resources already committed, even when it's clear that further investment won't lead to better outcomes. For instance, you might keep pouring money into a failing business because you've already invested a significant amount.
We want to finish what we've started because of previously invested resources, even if it is better to quit and use our limited resources elsewhere for better returns.
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