Cognitive Biases

Cognitive Biases

(Systematic Patterns of Irrational Thinking)

Definition: Cognitive biases are built-in mental shortcuts or tendencies that cause people to perceive, remember, or interpret information in a distorted way. Unlike logical fallacies, which are flaws in arguments, cognitive biases arise from how our brains process information—often unconsciously. They can make us overvalue personal experience, ignore contradictory evidence, or favor familiar ideas. Recognizing biases helps us think more critically, question our assumptions, and make more rational decisions.