Common Types of Bias
Common Types of Prejudices
 Anchoring Bias - this happens when people rely
too much on pre-existing information or the
first information they find when making
decisions.
- when we become “anchored” to a specific
idea, we end up “filtering” all new
information
 Media Bias - this happens when journalist and
news producers select the events and stories
that are reported that are covered.
 Confirmation Bias - it is a tendency of people to
favor information that confirms their existing
beliefs
 Conformity Bias – this happens when one
makes a wrong or uncomfortable decision to fit
in or to please the group of people
 Halo Effect – also referred to as the halo error;
it is a type of cognitive bias whereby our
perception of someone is positively influenced
by our opinions of that person’s other related
traits. The halo effect is something referred to
as the “physical attractiveness stereotype” and
the “what is beautiful is also good” principle.
 Racism – the idea that groups of people exhibit
different personality, characteristics and can be
separated based on the dominance of one race
over another
Ex. Chinese in our country were considered virus
carriers due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
 Sexism – a form of prejudice based on sex or
gender
Ex. Long before, women are considered weak and
lack of strength and ability to do the work of men.
Another example is LGBT community.
 Classism – is a prejudice based on social class or
grouping of individuals based on wealth,
occupation, income, education, and social
network.
Ex. An idea that the poor are uneducated thus they
should not be treated well by the government.
 Ageism – this is a prejudicial attitude towards
older people, old age and the aging process.
Ex. All adult should not be hired because they will
only be a burden especially those who deserve to
retire.
 Religion – this is the attitude towards a person
or group differently because of the particular
beliefs about religion.
Ex. He lost his job because of his religion.