What is Zero Risk Bias? Zero Risk Bias can be understood as a mental shortcut that happens when we choose to get rid of a smaller risk completely, rather than reducing a much bigger risk just a little. It’s like when we have the choice between fixing a tiny scratch on your bike’s paint or checking to see if the brakes work properly, and we choose to fix the scratch. It feels good to ma... »
What is Zeigarnik Effect? The Zeigarnik Effect is like a mental sticky note. It’s what happens when our brains hold onto tasks that we haven’t finished yet. It’s like when you open an app on your phone, and it keeps running in the background. Your brain does the same thing—it keeps thinking about jobs that are undone. Bluma Zeigarnik, a psychologist, noticed something interesting... »
What is Third Person Effect? Imagine you’re watching a TV ad for the newest smartphone. You think to yourself, “I don’t need that phone; these ads don’t really work on me.” But then you also think, “Other people will probably rush out to buy it because of this ad.” When you have these thoughts, you’ve just experienced the Third Person Effect. This ha... »
What is The Dunning-Kruger Effect? The Dunning-Kruger Effect is when people are new to a topic and think they understand it better than they actually do. Imagine someone trying to play chess after learning just the rules; they might feel like they know the whole game until they play against someone who really understands strategy. This effect is not about being dishonest; it’s more about not... »
What is Survivorship Bias? Think of Survivorship Bias as a filter in your brain that shows you the success stories while hiding the failures. Imagine you’re playing a video game and only the winners’ characters are visible to you; all the others, the ones who lost, are invisible. This bias makes you think the game is easy because you only see the winners. In the real world, it’s ... »
What is Suggestibility? Suggestibility is how our minds accept new ideas based on what other people say. Think about when a friend suggests a new song and suddenly you can’t wait to listen to it—it’s like that, but it can happen in bigger ways too. It’s like our brains have a button that other people’s words can push, making us think and act in certain ways. Another way to ... »
What is Stereotyping? Stereotyping can be described as painting all people from a single group with the same brush. It is when someone assumes that every person within a certain group shares the same characteristics or traits, without recognizing their individuality. Imagine someone looking at a huge, varied garden and deciding every flower in it is exactly the same, just because they all have pet... »
Understanding Status Quo Bias Imagine you’re at a crossroads. One path is the one you’ve walked many times; it’s familiar and comfortable. The other path is different, it might have better views or lead to a cool new place, but it’s unfamiliar. Status Quo Bias is like choosing the familiar path again and again, not because it’s better, but because it’s the one y... »
What is the Spotlight Effect? Have you ever felt like you’re on a stage with all eyes on you? That’s the “Spotlight Effect.” Imagine two things: First, that every move you make is being watched and judged by people. Second, that a beam of light follows you everywhere, highlighting everything you do so others can’t miss it. These images capture the essence of this effe... »
What is Self Serving Bias? Ever taken a test and when you aced it, you thought, “I’m really smart!” but when you didn’t do well, you figured, “The test was unfair?” That’s self serving bias. It’s like a sneaky voice in our heads that’s really good at making excuses for us when things go wrong, but it’s also quick to give us a high-five wh... »