Parent Post
ReactanceWe go against orders,
Reactance
We go against orders, especially when we see them as an assault on our freedoms.
Example: “I don’t care if your sign says masks are required. I can do whatever I want.”
Google Effect (aka Digital
Google Effect (aka Digital Amnesia)
We don’t store information in our brains that’s conveniently found online.
Example: “Who was that actor in the latest Marvel film? I’ve Googled it like ten times…”
Spotlight EffectWe think people
Spotlight Effect
We think people are paying far more attention to us than they are.
Example: Josh is worried everyone at work will notice he needs new shoes.
Third-Person EffectWe see ourselves
Third-Person Effect
We see ourselves as more immune to media than others.
Example: “See how brainwashed you’ve become?!”
Dunning-Kruger EffectThe overestimation of
Dunning-Kruger Effect
The overestimation of ability when one has little experience.
Example: The market firm’s new hire was confident he’d designed the perfect ad campaign, but it ended up losing money.
Defensive AttributionThe tendency to
Defensive Attribution
The tendency to blame others for your mistakes out of self-protection.
Example: Brad scapegoats Jill for submitting a bad company report even though he did all the research.
Naïve RealismWe privilege our
Naïve Realism
We privilege our “objective” view of reality over all others.
Example: “I see things for what they are—everyone else is misinformed.”
First, a quick note
First, a quick note about cognitive biases.
What are they?
Why is knowing about them crucial?
All humans make systematic errors in thinking—hurting our judgment.
Being aware of cognitive biases will make you less susceptible to them.
Let’s get started.
Moral LuckEquating moral superiority
Moral Luck
Equating moral superiority with a positive outcome and moral inferiority with a negative outcome.
Example: He won the election because he was morally superior to the loser.
AnchoringWe make decisions based
Anchoring
We make decisions based on first impressions.
Example: “The label says gluten-free. It must be good for me!”
Forer Effect (aka Barnum
Forer Effect (aka Barnum Effect)
We see ourselves reflected in things that could apply to many.
Example: “Today’s horoscope was spot-on!”
False ConsensusWe assume others
False Consensus
We assume others agree with us by default.
Example: “Everybody knows that!”
For learning purposes, I’ve
For learning purposes, I’ve re-summarized the 50 cognitive biases Musk recommends to learn.
It seemed overwhelming for you to read all 50 in one thread,
so I’ve split them into a two-part series.
Today I’ll share the first 25, tomorrow the second half.
Just-World HypothesisBelieving the world
Just-World Hypothesis
Believing the world to be inherently just, we interpret injustice as bad karma.
Example: Jackie broke her ankle because she made fun of Jill’s medical condition.
GroupthinkWe make irrational decisions
Groupthink
We make irrational decisions just to avoid conflict.
Example: Jackie wants to go bowling. Joe wants to buy a cake for a dinner party. You suggest getting a cake in the shape of a bowling ball.
Self-Serving BiasWe chalk failures
Self-Serving Bias
We chalk failures up to the situation while taking all the credit for our successes.
Example: You earned that A through hard work & skill. Meanwhile, you got a poor grade because of external factors: bad professor, team assignment, etc.
Naïve CynicismThe assumption that
Naïve Cynicism
The assumption that others act only out of self-interest.
Example: “The only reason the boss gave us a bonus is to squeeze extra work out of us.”
Confirmation BiasWe seek out
Confirmation Bias
We seek out (and retain) information that confirms what we already believe.
Example: Flat Earthers base their beliefs on a feeling, ignoring all evidence
to the contrary.
Availability HeuristicWe make snap
Availability Heuristic
We make snap judgments based on the most recent information.
Example: When an airline reports a crash, ticket sales go down until people forget about the incident.
Automation BiasWe put too
Automation Bias
We put too much trust in automated systems to fix our mistakes.
Example: “Grammarly suggested it; therefore, it’s correct.”
Fundamental Attribution ErrorWe judge
Fundamental Attribution Error
We judge everyone else on character but blame our shortcomings on the situation.
Example: If Jane is late for work, she’s lazy. If you’re late for work, it’s because of traffic.
Bandwagon EffectConcepts, trends, and
Bandwagon Effect
Concepts, trends, and beliefs catch on as more people validate them.
Example: Jill believes buying an LV bag will make her look chic. Janet does, too.
There you have it,
There you have it, the first 25 cognitive biases everyone should learn.
Understanding cognitive biases makes the world a better place! Let’s spread this important message.
Elon Musk tweeted about
Elon Musk tweeted about 50 cognitive biases every kid should learn.
It’s a phenomenal list!
25 cognitive biases Elon
25 cognitive biases Elon Musk thinks every kid should learn:
Halo EffectFocusing on one
Halo Effect
Focusing on one trait (positive or negative) as being indicative of the whole.
Example: “Brad must be a great entrepreneur; he’s amazing at golf!”
Backfire EffectYou interpret evidence
Backfire Effect
You interpret evidence that disproves your belief as a confirmation of it.
Example: You insist the world is flat because NASA faked all those photographs of Earth.
Curse of KnowledgeWe believe
Curse of Knowledge
We believe that everyone knows the same things we do.
Example: Jane gets frustrated with her son for not understanding multiplication right away.
Belief BiasWe tend to
Belief Bias
We tend to accept the outcome of an argument only if it matches what we believe.
Example: All fish can swim, and whales can swim; therefore, whales are fish.
Ingroup FavoritismWe privilege those
Ingroup Favoritism
We privilege those in our ingroup over those in an outgroup.
Example: Jackie works in your division, so you value her more than John, who works over in accounting.
