The out-group homogeneity effect refers to the idea that people view members of an out-group as less varied than members of their own in-group. This perspective forms the basis for stereotypes, which are generalized beliefs about a group of people. For instance, one might believe that all employees in a certain profession share the same…
Tag: cognitive bias
What is Behavioral Confirmation – Social Perception and Social Reality
Behavioral confirmation is a social psychological term that describes how people’s expectations about others can lead to the confirmation of those expectations through social interaction. This process implicates both the perceiver, who holds certain expectations, and the target, whose behavior may be influenced as a result. In the literature, the phenomenon of belief creating social reality is known…
What is Cognitive Inertia – How the Status Quo Traps Us
Cognitive inertia is the psychological tendency to maintain current beliefs and mental models, even when faced with contrary information or changing environments. It’s an aspect of human behavior that can impact decision-making and actions, as individuals often resort to what’s familiar rather than what’s optimal. Cognitive inertia leads to resistance against adopting new information or revising…
The Mere-exposure Effect – Familarity Preference
The mere exposure effect represents a psychological phenomenon in which repeated exposure to a particular stimulus leads to an increased preference for it. This effect, rooted deeply in psychology and especially relevant to social psychology, was brought into prominence by Robert Zajonc in the 1960s. Zajonc’s research illuminated how familiarity with an object or concept cultivates a feeling of preference, effectively encapsulating…
What is Belief Perseverance Psychology: Stubborn Convictions
Belief perseverance (also called conceptual conservatism) is the tendency for people to hold on to their existing beliefs, even when those beliefs are discredited by new information or evidence. This phenomenon is particularly significant in the face of evidence that should logically challenge the belief, showcasing the strength and tenacity of pre-held notions. For example, a…
The Ben Franklin Effect: Harnessing Favors To Build Relationships
The Ben Franklin Effect is a psychological phenomenon which suggests that when an individual does a favor for someone else, it actually increases the chance they will like the person for whom they performed the favor. This surprising aspect of human psychology is intricately linked with the concept of cognitive dissonance, which occurs when a person’s beliefs are…
The Curse of Knowledge Bias – Ignorance is Bliss?
The curse of knowledge is a cognitive bias that occurs when an individual who is privy to specific information finds it difficult to envision what it’s like not to possess this knowledge. This bias can lead to miscommunication, as the informed individual may overestimate others’ understanding. Cognitive scientists recognize it as a barrier to perspective-taking…
What is the Dunning-kruger Effect?
The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which individuals overestimate their competence in a specific area, often significantly. This concept was introduced by psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger, who observed that people with limited knowledge or ability in a domain are not only prone to making errors but also lack the capability to recognize their…
Illusory Correlation: How We Perceive False Connections
Illusory correlation is the process of detecting a relationship between variables (usually individuals, events, or actions) when none exists. A mistaken connection may be created because infrequent or novel occurrences are more prominent and, hence, attract one’s attention. It is different from the correlation fallacy. Key features of illusory correlation include: Implicit Assumptions: Individuals often…