Bias blind spot

Explanations > Theories > Bias blind spot

Description | Research | Example | So What? | See also | References 

Description

We often know that people have biases. If we think about it, we also realize that we also use bias in our decisions, yet we still do not compensate sufficiently for our biases.

In particular, we will consider ourselves as being relatively unbiased compared with others.

Research

Pronin, Lin and Ross described how we are biased to a set of people, and yet they still used that bias in decisions, for example they rated peers and other Americans as having significantly more bias than themselves.

Example

I take an IQ test which shows myself as having a lower IQ. I believe it wrong. I find more credible the results from another test which shows me as having a very high IQ, even though I know the test is less valid.

So What?

Using it

Use the effects of bias in persuasion - even if people know this, they will still be biased.

Defending

Think twice about your biases. Be honest with yourself, and especially if someone seems to be using your bias blindness against you.

See also

Halo Effect, Self-Serving Bias

References

Pronin, Lin, and Ross (2002), Pronin, Gilovich, and Ross (2004)