Cognitive biases in everyday life

In short: Cognitive biases are systematic thinking errors that influence our judgement and decisions. They arise because the brain uses shortcuts to judge quickly.

In more detail: The biases are normal and affect everyone. Those who know them can compensate better.

In detail

• Confirmation bias: We seek and believe information that supports our opinion.
• Anchoring: A number mentioned first influences later estimates, for example in price negotiation.
• Availability heuristic: What comes to mind easily (such as plane crashes) we consider more frequent.
• Hindsight bias: “I knew it” after something has happened.
• Dunning-Kruger effect: Those who know little overestimate themselves more easily.
• Herd behaviour: We follow the majority (gruppendynamik-und-konformitaet).
• Remedies: Seek counter-arguments, check data, sleep on decisions, ask for others’ opinions.