COGNITIVE BIAS

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 WHAT IS COGNITIVE BIAS

• Cognitive bias is the tendency to act in an irrational way due to our limited
ability to process information objectively. It is not always negative, but it can
cloud our judgment and affect how clearly we perceive situations, people, or
potential risks.
• For Example : One common manifestation of cognitive bias is the stereotype
that women are less competent or less committed to their jobs. These
stereotypes may linger in managers’ subconscious, influencing their hiring and
promoting decisions. This, in turn, can lead to workplace discrimination.
 GENDER BIAS

• Gender bias, the favoring of one gender over another, is also often referred to
as sexism. This bias occurs when someone unconsciously associates certain
stereotypes with different genders.
• Example: Bias during hiring is if the hiring panel favors male candidates over
female candidates even though they have similar skills and job experience.
• Another well-known example is the gender pay gap. As of 2021, the average
median salary for men is about 18% higher than women’s.
 AGE BIAS
• Ageism refers to stereotyping or discriminating against others based
on their age.

• As per the Global Study on Ageism, published by WHO in 2021, India

ranks high on ageism.
• The JobBuzz survey that included 1,940 employees, found that 33%
of Indian employees have faced age-based biases at work.

• According to another study conducted by the employer rating and

review platform TimesJob, ageism is overshadowing the
biases faced due to gender and even homophobia.
• Day to day examples of Age Bias-

People assume that a person cannot contribute to anything

after retirement i.e. age 60+
Generally, the road accidents that occur, are blamed on
youngsters.
The retirement age for State government employees varies
from State to State.
for example-
Kerala government – 55 years
Punjab government – 60 years
• Common Identifiable Age Biases In corporates-

Candidates who do not have a strong social media presence are

ignored.
Training and learning opportunities are offered more to younger
employees and it is more fruitful if offered to them.
Supervisors often assume that younger employees have no family
or much responsibilities and can stay back late at work.
Some organizations have strict age criteria in their hiring policies .
 HINDSIGHT BIAS

 Hindsight bias, also known as the "I-knew-it-all-along" phenomenon, refers to

the tendency of people to perceive events as having been predictable or
foreseeable after they have already occurred.
 Individuals believe that they knew the outcome of an event or had predicted it
accurately, even when they had no such foresight at the time.
 Often arises because, after an event has occurred, we possess knowledge about
the actual that was not available to us before.
Some Other Examples are –
 EXAMPLE OF HINDSIGHT BIAS

Stock Market Predictions

Before a stock market crash, many investors might be unaware of the impending
downturn. However, after the crash, some may claim they "knew it was going to
happen" and provide reasons why, even if they didn't express these opinions
before the event.
 PROJECTION BIAS

 Projection bias is a cognitive bias where individuals assume that others share
their beliefs, values, and attitudes more than is actually the case.
 In other words, people tend to project their own thoughts, feelings, and
preferences onto others, assuming that others perceive the world in a similar
way.
 This bias can influence various aspects of human interaction, communication,
and decision-making.
 EXAMPLE OF PROJECTION BIAS

 Alex, who absolutely loves spicy food. Alex enjoys meals with a high level of
heat and assumes that others must share the same preference. One day, Alex
invites friends over for dinner and decides to prepare a dish with a significant
amount of spice.
However, Alex doesn't take into account that some friends may not enjoy or
tolerate spicy food. When the friends arrive and taste the meal, some find it
uncomfortably hot and struggle to enjoy it.
In this scenario, Alex is experiencing projection bias by assuming that everyone
else shares the same preference for spicy food. The bias can lead to
misunderstandings and potentially affect the enjoyment of the meal.
 HALO EFFECT

• The "halo effect" refers to a cognitive bias where our overall impression of a
person influences how we feel and think about their character. This can lead to
a positive or negative "halo" surrounding the person. Here are some key points
about the halo effect:
1. Overall Impression: The halo effect occurs when our overall impression of a
person influences how we perceive their specific traits. For example, if
someone is physically attractive, we may unconsciously assume they also
possess positive qualities like intelligence or kindness.
2. Positive and Negative Halos: The halo effect can be positive or negative. If
we have a positive overall impression of someone, we are more likely to view
their individual traits positively. Conversely, if we have a negative overall
impression, we may perceive their individual traits in a more negative light.
• Appearance and First Impressions: Physical appearance often plays a
significant role in the halo effect. First impressions, based on factors like
attractiveness, grooming, and body language, can shape our overall perception
of a person.
 CONFIRMATION BIAS

 Confirmation bias refers to the tendency of individuals to favor

information that confirms their preexisting beliefs or values while
avoiding or dismissing information that contradicts those beliefs. It can
influence the way people gather, interpret, and remember information.
Here are some key points about confirmation bias:
 Selective Perception: Individuals tend to interpret information in a way
that confirms their preconceptions. They may focus on aspects that
support their beliefs while ignoring or downplaying contradictory
evidence.
 Overconfidence: Confirmation bias can contribute to overconfidence in
one's beliefs, as individuals may only consider information that supports
their views, leading them to believe their perspective is more valid than
it may be.
 Impact on Decision-Making: Confirmation bias can significantly
influence decision-making processes, leading to suboptimal choices and
potentially hindering the ability to consider alternative perspectives.
 EXAMPLE OF CONFIRMATION BIAS

• Teacher A doesn’t believe children can be

trusted with tools. Teacher A focuses only
on instances of children using tools
improperly, rather than recognizing all of
the instances of proper tool use.
 CURSE OF KNOWLEDGE

• The curse of knowledge is a cognitive bias that occurs when an individual, who
is communicating with others, assumes that others have information that is
only available to themselves, assuming they all share a background and
understanding. This bias is also called by some authors the curse of expertise.

• For example, in a classroom setting, teachers may have difficulty if they cannot
put themselves in the position of the student. A knowledgeable professor might
no longer remember the difficulties that a young student encounters when
learning a new subject for the first time
 FRAMING EFFECT

• The framing effect is a cognitive bias in which people decide between

options based on whether the options are presented with positive or
negative connotations. Individuals have a tendency to make risk-avoidant
choices when options are positively framed, while selecting more loss-
avoidant options when presented with a negative frame.
• The concept helps to develop an understanding of frame analysis within
social movements, The framing effect has consistently been shown to be one
of the largest biases in decision making.
• Gain and loss are defined in the scenario as descriptions of outcomes, for
example, lives lost or saved, patients treated or not treated, monetary gains
or losses.
 FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTION ERROR

• The fundamental attribution error refers to an individual's tendency to attribute another's actions to their
character or personality, while attributing their behavior to external situational factors outside of their control. In
other words, you tend to cut yourself a break while holding others 100 percent accountable for their actions.
• If a student is unable to connect with what the faculty is saying He/She will blame the faculty instead of taking
in account factors such as lack of attention or their tardiness
• The widespread occurrence of the fundamental attribution error is deeply ingrained in psychology, making it
challenging to entirely eliminate. However, one effective strategy for countering the FAE is practicing gratitude.
When you find yourself harboring resentment towards someone due to a perceived negative trait, make an effort
to identify five positive qualities that person possesses. This approach aims to restore balance to your
perspective and encourages you to see your co-worker holistically, rather than focusing solely on one negative
characteristic.
 SELF SERVING BIAS

• The self-serving bias describes when we attribute positive events and successes to our own character or actions
but blame negative results on external factors unrelated to our character. The self-serving bias is a common
cognitive bias that is often compared to the fundamental attribution error
• Examples: Mid semester examinations
• Ways to reduce self serving bias
• Reduce ego
• Zoom out
• Evaluate
GUESS THE BIAS?
THANK YOU