Cognitive Biases
The #1 place to explore cognitive biases — clear definitions, memorable real‑world examples, and practical counter‑moves. A project proudly supported and curated by MetalHatsCats.
Currently 217 articles — expanding weekly.
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Omission Bias
Why doing nothing feels safer, how hidden delay costs stack up, and how to compare action against waiting.
Action Bias
Why people act under pressure even when waiting is smarter, with examples from work, health, and investing.
Tachypsychia
Definition, symptoms, and why time can feel slow or distorted in moments of stress or danger.
Catalogue - Cognitive Biases
Showing 1-24 of 217 biases
Common Source Bias – when everyone repeats the same thing
You watch the news, read blogs, study research – and everywhere you see the same thing? It seems lik…
Conservatism Bias – when new evidence doesn't change old beliefs
You receive new information, but it barely changes your opinion? That’s Conservatism Bias – the tend…
Functional Fixedness – when objects can only be used one way
Do you see an object and think it can only be used for its intended purpose? That’s Functional Fixed…
Clustering Illusion – when randomness looks like a pattern
Do you see patterns where none exist? That’s Clustering Illusion – the tendency to overestimate the …
Illusory Correlation – when you see a connection that isn’t there
Do you think two events are connected when it’s just coincidence? That’s Illusory Correlation – the …
Pareidolia – when your brain sees patterns that aren’t there
Do you see faces in clouds or hear ‘hidden messages’ in music? That’s pareidolia – the tendency to p…
Anthropocentric Thinking – when everything is judged by human standards
Do you assume animals think and feel just like humans? That’s Anthropocentric Thinking – the tendenc…
Anthropomorphism – when objects and animals get human traits
Do you think your cat feels offended or that a robot has emotions? That’s Anthropomorphism – the ten…
Attentional Bias – when your thoughts control what you see
Do you notice only what’s on your mind? That’s Attentional Bias – the tendency to focus on informati…
Frequency Illusion – when something new suddenly appears everywhere
Did you recently learn about something and now it seems to be everywhere? That’s Frequency Illusion …
Implicit Association – when your brain links things faster than you realize
Do some words or concepts seem to connect faster in your mind than others? That’s Implicit Associati…
Salience Bias – when the striking overshadows the relevant
Do you focus only on the most striking things while ignoring the less noticeable ones? That’s Salien…
Selection Bias – when the sample doesn’t reflect reality
Are you making conclusions based on a sample that doesn’t represent the whole picture? That’s Select…
Survivorship Bias – when you only see the winners
Do you think success is just a matter of making the right choices because all you see are winners? T…
Quantification Bias – when only measurable things seem to matter
Do you trust numbers more than anything else? That’s Quantification Bias – the tendency to give more…
Well-Travelled Road Effect – when familiar routes feel faster
Does your daily commute feel shorter than a new route of the same distance? That’s Well-Travelled Ro…
Normalcy Bias – when you believe nothing bad will happen
Do you believe disasters only happen to others, not you? That’s Normalcy Bias – the tendency to igno…
Effort Justification – when hard work makes something seem more valuable
Does something feel more valuable just because you worked hard for it? That’s Effort Justification –…
Ben Franklin Effect – when doing a favor makes you like someone more
Do you like someone more after doing them a favor? That’s Ben Franklin Effect – when we’ve already h…
Backfire Effect – when evidence makes false beliefs stronger
Do you double down on your beliefs when confronted with contradicting evidence? That’s Backfire Effe…
Congruence Bias – when you only test what you want to confirm
Do you test a hypothesis only in ways that confirm it, rather than trying to disprove it? That’s Con…
Experimenter’s Bias – when you see only what you expect
Do you only notice results that confirm your hypothesis? That’s Experimenter’s Bias – the tendency t…
Observer-Expectancy Effect – when wanting a result makes it appear
Does a researcher believe in a certain outcome and unconsciously shape the data to fit? That’s Obser…
Selective Perception – when you only see what you expect
Do you notice only what confirms your expectations while ignoring everything else? That’s Selective …