22 Interesting Cognitive Bias Facts that Shape Your Mind

Published October 27, 2025

Confirmation bias occurs when a person subconsciously favors information that confirms already held beliefs. Confirmation bias can lead to errors in judgment because it prevents an individual from looking at a situation objectively._[5]
Anchoring bias occurs when a person relies too heavily on the first piece of information someone receives that acts as an anchor, even if it is irrelevant._[9]
The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut a person's brain takes to make a decision based on how readily examples come to mind. For example, if something is easy to remember, a person is more likely to think it is common or important, even if it isn't._[4]
A cognitive bias is different from a logical fallacy. A logical fallacy is an error in a logical argument, while a cognitive bias is embedded in thought processing, problems with memory, and other mental mistakes._[4]
Everyone has cognitive biases. To identify your own, you can take several steps: 1) Educate yourself about the different types of biases, 2) observe your own thinking patterns, 3) always question your assumptions, 4) reflect after making decisions, 5) keep a bias journal, and 6) practice mindful thinking._[9]

An example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect would be if a new driver gets their license and thinks they are the best driver on the road

In what is known as the Dunning-Kruger effect, people who have low skill or knowledge in a certain area tend to overestimate their abilities, while those who more highly skilled tend to underestimate their abilities._[6]
A hindsight bias is a bias where someone believes that they predicted an event after it already happened and that they "knew it all along."_[3]
The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which a person is overly influenced by one positive trait. For example, if someone is dressed well, it may cause people to believe they are good at everything else. The opposite of the halo effect is the horn effect, in which one negative trait makes everything else about a person or object appear negative._[4]
A common cognitive bias is the sunk cost bias. This is the tendency to continue to invest time, money, and effort into something simply because a person as already invested in it. For example, we continue to watch a boring movie because we already paid for a ticket._[4]
The planning fallacy occurs when we underestimate how long it will take to complete a future task, even when past experiences have shown that it usually takes longer._[7]
The brain forms cognitive biases for several reasons. First, as an adaptive step to think more quickly in situations, and second, because there isn't enough information to avoid forming a bias._[8]
Compassion fade is the tendency to behave more compassionately towards a small group of known people rather than to a large group of unknown people._[1]
The self-serving bias is when someone attributes success to themself and any failures to external factors._[1]
A cognitive bias is a systematic error in thinking that influences the way people make decisions and judgments. Basically, it is the brain's attempt to simplify information processing._[4]

While you can't eliminate cognitive biases completely, you can reduce their influences in several ways 1) learn about common biases, 2) practice metacognition (thinking about thinking), 3) Actively seek evidence against your viewpoint, 4) use diverse perspectives, 5) use decision matrices, 6) slow down thinking processes, and 7) cultivate intellectual humility

Understanding how cognitive biases form in clinical judgement, entrepreneurship, finance, and management can help reduce clinical errors, increase financial bottom lines, and improve organizational structure._[8]
The "backfire effect" occurs when someone is confronted with beliefs they disagree with, but instead of considering the opposing view, their belief in their original ideas becomes even more entrenched._[8]
Pareidola occurs when our brain associates visual information with images we're already familiar with, like seeing Jesus on a piece of toast, hearing hidden messages in static noise, or shapes in nature. It happens because humans are wired to recognize patterns and faces, and then the brain fills in the gaps when information is ambiguous._[2]
The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon (frequency illusion) occurs when someone notices something for the first time and then starts seeing it everywhere. For example, a person hears a new word and then starts hearing it more often in conversations and the media. It's not an increase in frequency; a person's awareness has just shifted._[2]
The Rhyme-as-Reason Effect is a cognitive bias where phrases that rhyme or have a catchy sound are perceived as being more true, even if the content doesn't make sense. Our brains link rhythm and repetition with credibility._[2]
Tachypsychia is a phenomenon where time seems to speed up or slow down most often during high-stress or life-threatening situations. It happens because adrenaline increases sensory processing and your brain focuses on more detail._[2]
The bias blind spot occurs when people think that others are more biased than they are. Everyone we know (except us) has this bias. It is essentially a blind spot in self awareness._[2]

The bias blind spot occurs when people love to point out other people's faults, but they assume that their own judgment is fair and objective

While nearly 200 cognitive biases have been identified, the exact number is less important than the understanding that our brain tricks us on a daily basis. Being aware of these brain "shortcuts" can help us understand how people make decisions and judgements._[2]