How Smart Are You?

Five cognitive biases we all fall for

Photo by Thư Anh on Unsplash

We’re all perceptive. We can think for ourselves, and for that matter, think clearly. Or can we?

Our brains can do a lot, but they’re prone to errors — and not just when we’re tired. When we feel alert and sharp, we can still make bad decisions. What gives?

Our minds can all succumb to cognitive bias, or an error in thinking. Learning to recognize these biases can help you avoid them in the future. Here are five you may have come across, and how to combat them.

1. The halo effect

Photo by Torsten Dederichs on Unsplash

Say you meet someone at a party, and he shakes your hand and makes friendly conversation. You leave with the impression that he’s a good person, kind and trustworthy.

Then you meet someone else, who seems distant. You might think he’s cold, rude, or shifty.

You’ve fallen into the trap of the halo effect, in which we make broad assumptions (knowingly or unknowingly) about someone based on a little information we know.

For example, when we meet someone we consider attractive, we may also assume that they’re intelligent…