What is Fundamental Attribution Error? Think of a time when you saw someone trip and spill their coffee. Did you think, “That person is so clumsy!”? That’s the Fundamental Attribution Error in action. This idea comes from social psychology and it explains a common mistake we make: When people do something, we often think it’s because of the kind of person they are, rather than looking ... »
What is the Forer Effect? The Forer Effect, or the Barnum Effect, is like a trick our own minds play on us. It happens when we read or hear things about ourselves that are super general but feel incredibly special, as if they were written just for us. Here are two really detailed ways to explain it: First off, imagine someone tells you a fortune cookie kind of statement like, “You have a gre... »
What is False Memory? A false memory is like a video in your head that’s not quite right. It’s a picture or a story that you believe happened, but really, it didn’t—at least not the way you think it did. This can happen for small things, like what you had for breakfast last Tuesday, or big things, like remembering an event that never occurred. False memories feel real, but they c... »
What is False Consensus Effect? The False Consensus Effect is like believing that because you love watching superhero movies, you think almost everyone else must love them too. It is when a person thinks their own preferences, attitudes, and beliefs are more normal and common than they actually are. This can happen even when there is no proof that other people share the same thoughts. In more deta... »
What is False Consensus? False Consensus is something that happens in our minds, making us believe that other people think and act the same way we do. Imagine you think that playing video games for hours is what everyone likes to do. That’s false consensus. You’re assuming most people enjoy video games as much as you, when some might prefer reading books or playing sports. Another way to look at f... »
What is Endowment Effect? The endowment effect is when you feel that something you own is worth more than it actually is, just because it’s yours. Imagine if you got a sticker from a friend; as soon as it’s on your notebook, it might seem like the best sticker in the world to you. If someone else had the same sticker, you might not think it’s so great. This feeling happens becaus... »
What Is Egocentric Bias? Egocentric bias is when a person views everything around them as if they are at the center of it all. Think of it like they’re wearing special glasses that highlight their own feelings and actions more than others. When someone has an egocentric bias, they usually believe their thoughts, feelings, and experiences are what matters most, kind of like the main character... »
What is the Dunning-Kruger Effect? Picture a time when you learned a new game and, after a few rounds, you felt like you were the best at it. That might be the Dunning-Kruger Effect in action. It’s where people who only know a little about something believe they know a lot. To put it simply, some folks might get a bit of information and suddenly think they’re close to experts. This hap... »
What is Digital Amnesia? Imagine this: You watch a number, it flashes on the screen for a second, and then you reach for your phone to save it because you know you’ll forget. That’s Digital Amnesia in a nutshell. Digital Amnesia, which some people call the Google effect, happens when we trust our phones, computers, and the internet to remember information for us. It’s like weR... »
What is Defensive Attribution? Defensive attribution is a sort of mental shortcut we sometimes use when bad things happen. Imagine you hear a story about someone slipping on ice and breaking their arm. Your first thought might be, “Well, they weren’t being careful enough!” This instinct to blame the hurt person is because deep down, you want to believe you’re safe and it couldn’t... »