Cognitive bias

Overview

A cognitive bias is a systematic distortion in thinking that arises when we process information or make judgments. It's considered a by-product of heuristics (mental shortcuts) that developed during evolution to help us make quick judgments. Starting from the research of Kahneman and Tversky, many different cognitive biases have been reported.

Cognitive biases hiding in a question box

Cognitive biases hide in question box exchanges too. Examples include the spotlight effect (overestimating how much attention you're getting), negativity bias (reacting strongly to negative information), and confirmation bias (collecting only information that fits your beliefs).

For example, if 9 out of 10 questions are friendly and 1 is critical, negativity bias can make you dwell on that single critical one. Objectively, 90% are friendly, yet subjectively you may be left with the impression that "I got criticized."

The value of knowing about biases

Cognitive biases are built into the human brain, and you can't eliminate them completely. But knowing they exist is a first step toward reducing their influence.

If you can notice, "Right now I'm being pulled by negativity bias," it becomes easier to avoid overreacting to that one critical question. If you realize, "I'm only anxious because of the spotlight effect," you may find the courage to send a question. Knowing about cognitive biases becomes a tool for using a question box more calmly and with more fun.