COGNITIVE BIASES

Status-quo bias
Confirmation bias
Backfire effect
Bandwagon effect
Dunning-kruger effect
 STATUS-QUO BIAS
status-quo: the present situation or condition
I. Definition
Status quo bias is defined as the preference for
maintaining one’s current situation and opposing actions
that may change the state of affairs.

Status quo bias is a cognitive bias based on emotion.

Change naturally invites risk, and people may be
uncomfortable putting themselves in situations where
the outcome is uncertain.

II. Effect: Why is it wrong?

Status quo bias negatively affects your ability to make
decisions. Your ingrained preference for stability keeps
you from judging different options fairly, which may
cause you to miss out on valuable opportunities.

III. Example
IV. How to Overcome?
LEARN TO RECOGNIZE STATUS QUO BIAS IN
YOURSELF AND OTHERS
Whenever a new change is proposed at work, pay
attention to how you react. Are you hesitant? If so,
why? Getting to the root of your concerns can
help you determine if the status quo basis is
playing a role.

WEIGH THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Status quo bias is closely related to the idea that
people focus more on what they stand to lose
from a decision than what they stand to gain. So
consider creating a list of pros and cons. As much
as possible, try to devote an equal amount of time
to both the advantages and disadvantages of the
proposed change. This will ensure that you are not
inadvertently gravitating toward the negatives.

FRAME THE DEFAULT OPTION AS A LOSS

For example, if you’re trying to get your team on
board with a new reporting tool, take the time to
explain what they would lose out on by not
adopting the new process. Maybe the existing
process is more time consuming or doesn’t
provide the same level of insights.

V. Application
Public Relations: Using status-quo bias to create a
loyal community for the brands/products/companies,
hence increasing brand awareness. We can also
collaborate with bandwagon effects to promote
interests.
Politics: Using status-quo bias to campaign for the
upcoming election through propaganda.
 CONFIRMATION BIAS
Beware the special case and murder your darlings
Tom wants to lose weight. He selects a particular diet
and checks his progress on scale every morning. If he
has lost weight, he considers the diet a success. If he had
gained weight, he writes it off as a normal fluctuation
and forgets about it. For months, he lives under the
illusion that the diet is working, even though his weight
remains the same. So Tom is the victim of confirmation
bias.

I. Definition
Confirmation bias is the mother of all misconceptions. It
is the tendency to interpret new information so that it
becomes compatible with our existing beliefs, theories
and convictions. In other words, we filter out any
information that contradicts our existing views
(“disconfirming evidence”)
II. How does it affect our lives
We deal mostly in assumptions, and the more nebulous
these are, the stronger the confirmation bias.

The philanthropists and the misanthropes: simply

filter disconfirming evidence (evidence to the
contrary) and focus on the do-gooders and dictators
who support their worldviews.
Astrologers and economists: They utter prophecies
so vague that any event can substantiate them: "In
the coming weeks you will experience sadness" or "In
the medium term, the pressure on the dollar will
increase". But what is the medium term? What will
cause the dollar to depreciate? And depreciation
measured against what?
Religious and philosophical: It grows wild and free.
For example, worshippers always find evidence for
God's existence, even though he never shows himself
overtly except to illiterates in the desert and in
isolated mountain villages. Counterarguments are
dismissed by the faithful.
The Internet: To stay informed, we browse news
sites and blogs, forgetting that our favored pages
mirror our existing values, be they liberal,
conservative, or somewhere in between. Moreover, a
lot of sites now tailor content to personal interests
and browsing history, causing new and divergent
opinions to vanish from the radar altogether.
Self-help and get-rich-quick books are further
examples of blinkered storytelling. Their shrewd
authors collect piles of proof to pump up the most
banal of theories, such as "meditation is the key to
happiness." Any reader seeking disconfirming
evidence does so in vain: Nowhere in these books do
we see people who lead fulfilled lives without
meditation, or those who, despite meditation, are
still sad.
III. Application in the area of communication
No professionals suffer more from the confirmation bias
than business journalists: Often, they formulate an easy
theory, pad it out with two or three pieces of "evidence,"
and call it a day.

For example: "Google is so successful because the

company nurtures a culture of creativity." Once this idea
is on paper, the journalist corroborates it by mentioning
a few other prosperous companies that foster ingenuity.
Rarely does the writer seek out disconfirming evidence,
which in this instance would be struggling businesses
that live and breathe creativity or, conversely,
flourishing firms that are utterly uncreative. Both
groups have plenty of members, but the journalist
simply ignores them. If he or she were to mention just
one, the story line would be ruined.

IV. How to Overcome?

If the word "exception" crops up, pick up your ears.
Often it hides the presence of disconfirming
evidence.
To fight against the confirmation bias, try writing
down your beliefs-whether in terms of worldview,
investments, marriage, health care, diet, career
strategies and set out to find disconfirming evidence.
While the majority seek merely to confirm their
theories, we should try to find fault and consciously
look for disconfirming evidence. Axing beliefs that
feel like old friends is hard work but imperative.
 BANDWAGON EFFECT
Bandwagon: an activity, group, movement, etc. that has become
successful or fashionable and so attracts many new people

I. Definition
The bandwagon effect is a psychological phenomenon in
which people do something primarily because other
people are doing it, regardless of their own beliefs,
which they may ignore or override. This tendency of
people to align their beliefs and behaviours with those
of a group is also called a herd mentality.

It’s a natural tendency for people to copy one another,

sometimes even without realising it. We all want to be a
part of tribes and social communities. So when we notice
our social circle does one thing, we tend to do the same.

II. Example
III. How does it affect our lives
Is the Bandwagon Effect Positive or Negative?
The bandwagon effect itself is a neutral phenomenon.
Whether following the behaviour of others is positive or
negative depends on the behaviour being followed. For
example, if everyone you know is saving for retirement
and discusses it frequently, you may be more likely to
save for retirement because you are copying the
behaviour of those around you. In that case, the
bandwagon effect would be positive for you. But if
everyone you know lives a lavish lifestyle, and you do
the same even though you can't afford it, the bandwagon
effect would have negative consequences for you.

Copying (not stealing) and creativity

It stands to reason that the more aware you are of what
other people are doing, the bandwagon effect will kick
in and you’ll begin to follow the trends you see (layered
on top of everything you’re also seeing in the wider
world of social media and the internet). Maybe by
choice, maybe due to cognitive bias because what you’re
feeding your creative mind with constantly is what other
people are doing. Not because we particularly set out to
copy, but because of everything we’re feeding our
creative minds with.
IV. Applications
Marketing: Companies use the bandwagon effect to
encourage customers to buy their products by
highlighting the popularity of the product among
other customers. Advertisements that use phrases
like "everyone is using our product" or "join the
trend" are examples of this.

Politics: Politicians use the bandwagon effect to build

momentum for their campaigns by emphasising the
number of supporters they have. This can be seen in
campaign rallies or social media, where politicians
display the number of followers they have to show
their popularity.
Fashion: The bandwagon effect is seen in fashion
trends where people tend to follow the latest styles
or fads. This can be observed in the popularity of
certain clothing items or accessories.
Education: The bandwagon effect is seen in
education, where students tend to follow the beliefs
or opinions of their peers. This can be observed in
classroom discussions or group projects or career
decision
 DUNNING-KRUGER EFFECT
Socrates: “I know that I am intelligent, because I know that I know nothing.”

I. Definition
The Dunning Kruger Effect is a cognitive bias that
makes people believe they are smarter and more
capable than they actually are. The effect is related to
people’s general inaptitude to recognize their lack of
ability.

Dunning-Kruger effect, in psychology, a cognitive bias

whereby people with limited knowledge or competence
in a given intellectual or social domain greatly
overestimate their own knowledge or competence in
that domain relative to objective criteria or to the
performance of their peers or of people in general.
II. Example

III. How to overcome it? - A journey of learning can

be a daunting experience

This change-induced learning has four phases: (1)

Unconscious incompetence, (2) conscious incompetence,
(3) conscious competence, and (4) unconscious
competence.

Setting out on a journey of learning can be a daunting

experience. What starts off as a leisurely stroll soon
changes to an intense battle of willpower between you
and an intimidating amount of knowledge. Do not give
up. The longer you fight, the more power you gain, up
until the point you win.
 BACKFIRE EFFECT
Backfire (v): if a plan or action backfires, it has the opposite effect
to the one you intended

I. Definition
The backfire effect is a cognitive bias that causes people
who encounter evidence that challenges their beliefs to
reject that evidence, and to strengthen their support of
their original stance.

It is a subtype of the confirmation bias, which is a

cognitive bias that can cause people to reject
information which contradicts their beliefs, or to
interpret information in a way that confirms those
beliefs.

II. Example
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS839kGQf/

III. How does it affect our lives?

Closed-mindedness: This can limit our ability to
learn, grow, and adapt to new situations.
Polarization: When people become more entrenched
in their beliefs, it can be difficult to find common
ground and work towards shared goals.
False beliefs: This can lead to poor decision-making
and prevent us from making informed choices.
Communication breakdowns: The backfire effect can
lead to breakdowns in communication, as people
become defensive and resistant to feedback or
criticism. This can make it difficult to resolve
conflicts or find solutions to problems.
IV. Why do people experience the backfire effect
We make decisions based mostly on emotions instead of
facts, and a lot of times we're guided by tribal instinct.
The problem is that the human brain evolved to help us
survive, and not necessarily to help us be factually
accurate. So we often respond better to social and tribal
dynamics than to intellectual analysis.

Another part of the problem is that our brain is

constantly protecting our worldview and sense of
identity. So when our worldview is challenged, physical
danger gets activated, this is why people sometimes
react so aggressively to information that proves them
wrong.

V. Application
Social political movements: Using Backfire effect to
create fake news, sensitive information to propagate
or spread on a large scale to strengthen people's
beliefs. From there, creating waves of public opinion
for the movements. The bigger the movement, the
greater the pressure from public opinion.

Commercial industries: Advertisements work by

asserting what you already believe in, thereby
strengthening your belief that they somehow tie to
their product: the place you are from, the time of
the day when you’re shown the advertisement, the
culture of your country, the political system, etc.
 VI. How to reduce the backfire effect
If you want someone to consider factual information
that clashes with their beliefs, first you have to prevent
their brain from seeing you as a personal threat. So look
for ways to identify the person as part of your tribe and
you as part of theirs. Communicate as if you're part of
the same.

Second, consider the possibility that you may be wrong,

maybe the facts are not on your side, in which case
admitting it will help you model to the other person that
it's okay to be wrong.

YOUR NOTES
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 KEY TAKEAWAYS
STATUS-QUO BIAS
Status quo bias is the preference for maintaining one's current situation and
opposing actions that may change it.
It negatively affects decision-making by keeping people from judging different
options fairly and missing out on valuable opportunities.
It can hinder the growth trajectory of a business if executives and managers
aren't willing to take risks.
Overcoming it involves recognizing it in yourself and others, weighing the
advantages and disadvantages, and framing the default option as a loss.
It can be applied in public relations to create a loyal community and increase
brand awareness, and in politics through propaganda campaigns.
CONFIRMATION BIAS
Confirmation bias is the tendency to interpret new information in a way that
supports our existing beliefs.
It affects many aspects of our lives, from personal beliefs to investment
decisions, and can lead to a narrow worldview.
Confirmation bias can be seen in areas such as religion, philosophy, and the
media.
To combat confirmation bias, we should actively seek out disconfirming
evidence and challenge our beliefs.
Writing down our beliefs and looking for evidence that contradicts them can
help us overcome confirmation bias.
It is important to be open to the possibility of being wrong and to actively
seek out evidence that challenges our beliefs.
DUNNING-KRUGER EFFECT
The Dunning Kruger Effect is a cognitive bias where people with limited
knowledge or competence in a domain greatly overestimate their own
knowledge or competence.
As we learn something new, we often have high confidence because we know
so little, but those who continue to learn realize things are more complex and
often lose motivation. The more we increase our knowledge, the lower our
confidence becomes, but we can regain confidence while getting better.
To overcome the Dunning Kruger Effect, one must embark on a journey of
learning that goes through four phases: unconscious incompetence, conscious
incompetence, conscious competence, and unconscious competence.
Setting out on a journey of learning can be intimidating, but the longer you
fight, the more power you gain, until you win.
 KEY TAKEAWAYS
BANDWAGON EFFECT
The bandwagon effect is a psychological phenomenon where people follow
the beliefs and behaviors of a group, even if it goes against their own beliefs.
People have a natural tendency to copy each other, especially in social
communities, and want to be a part of tribes.
The bandwagon effect can have positive or negative effects on an individual's
life, depending on the behavior being followed.
It's important to be aware of the bandwagon effect when creating and
consuming content, as it can lead to copying and stealing.
The bandwagon effect is used in marketing, politics, fashion, and education to
influence behavior and build momentum.
BACKFIRE EFFECT
The backfire effect causes people to reject evidence that challenges their
beliefs and strengthens their support for their original stance.
It can lead to closed-mindedness, polarization, false beliefs, and
communication breakdowns.
The backfire effect occurs because our brain evolved to help us survive, not
to be factually accurate, and our brain is constantly protecting our worldview
and sense of identity.
To reduce the backfire effect, it is important to communicate in a way that
identifies the person as part of your tribe and to consider the possibility that
you may be wrong.
The backfire effect has been observed in socio-political movements, such as
the anti-vaccination movement, and commercial industries, such as the
cigarette industry.