Types of Psychological Bias
Psychological Concepts
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Types of Psychological Bias
Cognitive biases are systematic patterns of deviation from rationality in judgment. They are mental shortcuts (heuristics) that our brains use to make quick decisions, but which often lead to predictable errors. Understanding these biases is the first step toward making better decisions and understanding why we think and act the way we do.
These biases are organized into categories based on how they affect different cognitive tasks: estimation, decision-making, hypothesis assessment, causal attribution, memory, and opinion formation.
Why We Have Biases
Evolutionary Origins:
The Tradeoff:
The Five Bias Flavors
Association: Connecting different pieces of information together.
Baseline: Comparing to a perceived standard or starting point.
Inertia: Reluctance to change what's already in place.
Outcome: How well something aligns with expected results.
Self-Perspective: Influenced by one's own personal point of view.
Why It Matters
Cognitive biases affect every area of life—from personal relationships to financial decisions to how we interpret the news. They explain why smart people believe false things, why we repeat mistakes, and why good intentions often lead to poor outcomes.
Explore Bias Categories
Tap any category below to explore the biases within it.
Estimation & Judgment
Biases that affect how we estimate probabilities, quantities, and make judgments about uncertain events.
18 biases
Decision-Making
Biases that influence how we make choices, evaluate options, and commit to decisions.
22 biases
Hypothesis Assessment
Biases that affect how we evaluate evidence, test theories, and update our beliefs.
15 biases
Causal Attribution
Biases that distort how we explain the causes of events and behaviors.
14 biases
Memory
Biases that affect how we encode, store, and retrieve memories.
18 biases
Opinion Formation
Biases that shape how we form, maintain, and change our opinions and beliefs.
16 biases
Social Perception
Biases that affect how we perceive, judge, and interact with other people.
20 biases
Information Processing
Biases that affect how we gather, filter, and interpret information.
15 biases
Self-Perception
Biases that distort how we see ourselves, our abilities, and our role in events.
12 biases
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