Cognitive Biases: The Chat

It's day 117 of documenting 2025.

It's official!
Today's the day before the D-Day.
Super exciting 😆
My dad and I will check out the center today.

Happy Sunday, by the way!
It's a new week already....
So, cheers! 🥂
I wish you a wonderful week ahead.

Yesterday was my last day at the tutorial center.
Well, last day as a student preparing for exams.
I will still visit from time to time.
(Probably to charge my power bank since the transformer is faulty 😏)

Anyhoo...
Today's post will be business as usual.
Until Tuesday.
I'll share today's highlights....no comments this time.
And I'll also share the chat I had with Cindy on a pretty interesting topic.
Then my closing lines 🙂
You ready? Great! Let's do it!

365 Days With Self-discipline
📌 On Dressing New Things In Old Habits

"Whether selling a new song, a new food, or a new crib, the lesson is the same: If you dress a new something in old habits, it’s easier for the public to accept it."
Quote by Charles Duhigg

"You’ll find it easier to change your current negative habits if you make your new, positive habits seem similar to your original, disempowering patterns."

"If you want to start jogging and you’re a fan of listening to podcasts, why not tell yourself that you’re going to listen to some podcasts and in the meantime, move a little?
It doesn’t sound like such a big, difficult change, does it?"

"Whenever you can, find a way to link a new change or make it as similar as possible (in appearance, not consequences) to your previous negative habit.
That way, it will more easily become a permanent routine in your life."

The Chat With Cindy: On Cognitive Biases

Me: What exactly is a cognitive bias and how does it affect decision making?

Meta AI: A cognitive bias is a mental shortcut or a way of thinking that can lead to mistakes or poor judgments.
It's like a filter in our brain that distorts reality, influencing how we perceive information and make decisions.
These biases can cause us to misinterpret data, overlook important details, or make irrational choices, often without even realizing it.

In decision-making, cognitive biases can lead to errors, such as overreacting to certain information, ignoring alternative perspectives, or holding onto preconceived notions. By being aware of these biases, we can try to overcome them and make more informed, rational decisions.

Me: So, you're saying in essence, that cognitive biases are negative?

Meta AI: Not entirely.
Cognitive biases can be helpful in some situations, like when they allow us to make quick decisions or rely on past experiences.
However, they can also lead to errors and poor judgments, especially in complex or unfamiliar situations.
It's a double-edged sword, really.

Me: Hmm 🤔
What could be the positive effects of a cognitive bias?

Meta AI: Cognitive biases can sometimes help us make faster decisions, simplify complex information, or even boost our confidence.
For example, relying on intuition or past experiences can allow us to react quickly in situations where there's not much time to think. However, it's essential to be aware of when these biases might be leading us astray.

Me: Can you mention the most common type of cognitive bias?

Meta AI: One of the most common cognitive biases is confirmation bias, where people tend to seek out and give more weight to information that confirms their existing beliefs, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts them. It's like we're wired to look for evidence that supports what we already think!

Me: Wow 😲
What of the least noticed cognitive bias?

Meta AI: The Dunning-Kruger effect is often considered one of the more subtle yet impactful cognitive biases.
It's when people who are incompetent in a particular area tend to overestimate their own abilities and performance, while underestimating the abilities of others.
It's like they're unaware of their own blind spots!

Me: Eeesh 😬
That doesn't sound good....
What about a cognitive bias that can have positive effects?

Meta AI: The optimism bias can have positive effects!
It's when people tend to be overly optimistic about their future, expecting good things to happen. While it can lead to unrealistic expectations, it can also boost motivation, resilience, and overall well-being.
A little optimism can go a long way!

Me: It seems there are a lot of cognitive biases.
I would like you to list 15 of them and explain each one briefly.

Meta AI: Here are 15 cognitive biases with brief explanations:

1. Confirmation Bias: Favoring information that confirms existing beliefs.
2. Anchoring Bias: Relying too heavily on the first piece of information encountered.
3. Availability Heuristic: Overestimating importance based on how easily information comes to mind.
4. Hindsight Bias: Believing past events were predictable.
5. Loss Aversion: Preferring to avoid losses over acquiring gains.
6. Framing Effect: Being influenced by how information is presented.
7. Dunning-Kruger Effect: Overestimating one's abilities due to lack of knowledge.
8. Optimism Bias: Being overly optimistic about the future.
9. Self-Serving Bias: Attributing successes to oneself and failures to others.
10. Bandwagon Effect: Following popular trends or opinions.
11. Authority Bias: Giving excessive weight to authority figures' opinions.
12. Sunk Cost Fallacy: Continuing to invest due to past commitments.
13. Halo Effect: Judging based on a single trait or characteristic.
14. Recency Bias: Giving more weight to recent events or information.
15. Gambler's Fallacy: Believing past events influence future random outcomes.

These biases can impact our perceptions, decisions, and interactions.
Recognizing them can help us make more informed choices.

Me: How can we recognize them, especially when we want to make decisions?

Meta AI: To recognize cognitive biases when making decisions, try these strategies:

Strategies to Recognize Cognitive Biases
1. Take a step back: Pause and reflect on your thought process.
2. Seek diverse perspectives: Consider alternative viewpoints and opinions.
3. Gather objective data: Rely on facts and evidence-based information.
4. Question assumptions: Challenge your own assumptions and biases.
5. Consider alternative explanations: Think about other possible explanations for a situation.
6. Be aware of emotions: Recognize how emotions might be influencing your decisions.
7. Practice self-reflection: Regularly examine your own thought patterns and biases.

Additional Tips
1. Slow down: Avoid rushing into decisions.
2. Seek feedback: Ask for input from others.
3. Stay open-minded: Be willing to change your mind or consider alternative views.

By using these strategies, you can become more aware of cognitive biases and make more informed decisions.

Me: Can you summarize our discussion on cognitive biases and give a suitable conclusion?

Meta AI: Summary
We discussed cognitive biases, which are mental shortcuts or patterns of thinking that can lead to errors or poor judgments.
We explored various types of biases, including confirmation bias, anchoring bias, and the Dunning-Kruger effect.
We also touched on the optimism bias, which can have positive effects.

Key Takeaways
1. Cognitive biases are inherent in human thinking and can impact decision-making.
2. Recognizing biases is crucial to making informed choices.
3. Strategies like taking a step back, seeking diverse perspectives, and questioning assumptions can help mitigate biases.

Conclusion
Cognitive biases are an inherent part of human thinking, but by being aware of them and using strategies to overcome them, we can make more informed decisions and improve our critical thinking skills.
By acknowledging and addressing our biases, we can strive for more objective and rational decision-making.

C'est fini!
That's the end of the pretty interesting chat.
I learned something new, how about you?

Thanks for reading, my friend 🎀
For joining me on this journey, I appreciate you.
And to the anonymous reader who joined my WhatsApp channel, you made me happy the day you joined.
I was overjoyed!
Thank you 😌

To catch up on former posts, visit Documenting 2025.
You can check out my Whatsapp channel and possibly be the 14th follower.
Visit Mystique Content Writers
I'll see you there 😉

(Time for my closing lines....)
I'm Duon Ada.
I'm documenting 2025.
And I'll see you tomorrow
Ciao 💕