Understanding the hidden biases that distort how you see the world
Last week, in The Challenge of Self-Knowledge we explored how it is completely natural to believe that we know ourselves well. We conclude, quite understandably, that we are the experts in our own likes, dislikes, values and motives. However, the reality is far more complex.
Our minds are not capable of reliably observing themselves in a scientific way. Our thoughts edit and reshape the stories we tell ourselves. We protect our self-esteem by explaining away our failures and we reinforce our own identity by justifying our behaviour and actions. Our brains protect us by actively working to reduce feelings of discomfort and restoring a sense of coherence.
When we start to really explore our inner worlds, though, we arrive at a surprising conclusion:
The greatest obstacle to self-knowledge is not ignorance; it is unnoticed bias.
In order to respond to situations quickly, our brains rely on patterns, past experiences and mental shortcuts. In psychology, these shortcuts are called heuristics. They help us to respond quickly but cause systematic errors in our judgement.
As a taster, here are just a few different types of bias that influence the way we think.
Self-serving bias is when people attribute their successes to their own effort and abilities but, when they fail, they blame it on external factors. For example, if a person passes an exam, they are likely to believe that this is down to their hard work and ability but if they fail, they might blame the teacher for not covering the curriculum in enough detail.
Another common thinking trap is the illusion of transparency. This is a cognitive distortion where an individual overestimates how clearly their thoughts, feelings or intentions are understood by others.
An example of the illusion of transparency might be a person believing that everyone can see that they are nervous during a presentation when, in fact, they appear very confident. In another situation, a person might be annoyed that someone does not see that they are upset, even though they have not actually communicated this to anyone.
Another example of distorted thinking is confirmation bias. This is the tendency to notice and remember information that supports what we already believe. For example, if we support a political party, we might focus on its successful policies while overlooking those that are less effective or do not align with our values.
A final example is post-purchase rationalisation. This describes a phenomenon where a person convinces themselves that they made the right choice when buying an item by only seeking out information that supports that belief. For example, if a person buys an expensive gadget and later sees a cheaper alternative, they might tell themselves ‘that one will probably break sooner’ or ‘mine will definitely have better quality components’.
These are just four examples of the many biases that distort our thinking. The more we become aware of the ways that our minds can mislead us, the more balanced and rational our thinking becomes.
Eliminating bias altogether is not possible. If we become aware it exists, then we are less likely to fall into the harmful traps caused by our own thinking.
Question for reflection
How might the biases outlined above be influencing the way you see yourself today? Can you think of an example when you have experienced each one?