Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConfirmation BiasAttribution BiasConformity BiasBeauty BiasGender BiasAgeismThe Contrast Effect
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Confirmation Bias
Attribution Bias
Conformity Bias
Beauty Bias
Gender Bias
Ageism
The Contrast Effect
Close
Bias refers to a tendency or preference towards a certain group, idea, or concept that influences our judgments and decisions.
Our experiences, culture, social norms, and personal beliefs often shape these beliefs. The way we act on these biases can be either conscious or unconscious and can lead toprejudicedor discriminatory behaviors.
“Bias can play a significant role in day-to-day interactions and relationships, often influencing our thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors toward others,” says David Yadush, LPC, a licensed professional counselor atBetterHelp. “This can result in misinterpreting or overlooking facts and can change how we perceive people or events in our lives.”
Along with affecting our everyday interactions, being unaware of biases—or falling prey to them even when we know they exist—can hinderpersonal growth.
In this article, we’re outlining common types of biases, and discussing the signs of each type and ways to overcome them.
Cultural Awareness—How to Be More Culturally Aware & Improve Your Relationships
Why It’s Important to Assess Your Biases
Of course, it also helps to understand the types of biases we’re apt to fall prey to so we can recognize and correct them in real-time.
How to Work Through Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that reaffirms our existing beliefs. In doing so, we tend to ignore information that contradicts ourbeliefs, which can lead us toward untruths.
Signs of confirmation bias may include:
“This bias can be harmful as it may prevent individuals from considering alternative viewpoints and may lead to closed-mindedness,” warns Yadush.
How to Overcome Confirmation Bias“To recognize and work through confirmation bias, individuals should actively seek out diverse perspectives and information, consider alternative viewpoints, and engage in critical thinking andself-reflection," says Yadush.
How to Overcome Confirmation Bias
“To recognize and work through confirmation bias, individuals should actively seek out diverse perspectives and information, consider alternative viewpoints, and engage in critical thinking andself-reflection," says Yadush.
Signs of attribution bias may include:
“Simply speaking, one tends to give themselves a break for their own mistakes or shortcomings as unavoidable but will blame others for similar mistakes or shortcomings as intentional,” explains Karri Francisco, LMFT, director of family programming atAPN.
She says that this is intellectually dangerous because it leads to unfair judgments of others. It can also make it harder to learn from our own mistakes since this bias prevents us from takingresponsibilityfor our actions.
How to Overcome Attribution BiasFrancisco says that practicingempathyand perspective-taking can help you move away from falling prey to attribution bias.
How to Overcome Attribution Bias
Francisco says that practicingempathyand perspective-taking can help you move away from falling prey to attribution bias.
Conformity bias is when we simply agree—or conform—with the opinions and behaviors of others in a group setting even when it’s against our own personal beliefs or knowledge.
Signs of conformity bias may include:
Yadush says, “This is typically an unconscious process that we go through in an attempt to avoid socialrejectionor gain status. This bias can be harmful as it may prevent individuals from expressing their true thoughts and opinions and may lead to groupthink, where the desire for consensus overrides critical thinking.”
How to Overcome Conformity Bias
To recognize and work through conformity bias, focus on reflecting on your own beliefs and values. At the same time, you can engage in critical thinking and seek diverse perspectives and opinions from others.
How to Overcome a Fear of Rejection
Beauty bias is either a subconscious or known propensity to treat conventionally beautiful people better or worse than those who aren’t asattractive.
Signs of beauty bias include:
The Halo EffectThe halo effect describes the phenomenon in which people assume that because a person has one favorable attribute, it must mean something favorable about them as a whole.For example, if you think someone is attractive, you may assume that they are nicer or smarter than someone you deem less attractive.
The Halo Effect
The halo effect describes the phenomenon in which people assume that because a person has one favorable attribute, it must mean something favorable about them as a whole.For example, if you think someone is attractive, you may assume that they are nicer or smarter than someone you deem less attractive.
The halo effect describes the phenomenon in which people assume that because a person has one favorable attribute, it must mean something favorable about them as a whole.
For example, if you think someone is attractive, you may assume that they are nicer or smarter than someone you deem less attractive.
For example, you might give favorable treatment to a beautiful person, or view them as more funny or interesting. This is referred to asThe Halo Effect, and studies show that people have a tendency to do this without even thinking.
That said, you might also treat an unattractive person less favorably or make harsh judgments about them without getting to know them.
How to Overcome Beauty BiasFrancisco says, “The potential harm can lead to discrimination against those who do not present within conventional beauty standards. Are you making assumptions about a person’s abilities orcharacterbased on their physical appearance, such as assuming that someone attractive is also intelligent or competent?”She adds that in order to recognize and work through any bias, we must become aware of our own and challenge them as they occur.One approach to challenging beauty bias is consciously focusing on a person’s qualities and abilities when evaluating them.
How to Overcome Beauty Bias
Francisco says, “The potential harm can lead to discrimination against those who do not present within conventional beauty standards. Are you making assumptions about a person’s abilities orcharacterbased on their physical appearance, such as assuming that someone attractive is also intelligent or competent?”She adds that in order to recognize and work through any bias, we must become aware of our own and challenge them as they occur.One approach to challenging beauty bias is consciously focusing on a person’s qualities and abilities when evaluating them.
Francisco says, “The potential harm can lead to discrimination against those who do not present within conventional beauty standards. Are you making assumptions about a person’s abilities orcharacterbased on their physical appearance, such as assuming that someone attractive is also intelligent or competent?”
She adds that in order to recognize and work through any bias, we must become aware of our own and challenge them as they occur.
One approach to challenging beauty bias is consciously focusing on a person’s qualities and abilities when evaluating them.
The Halo Effect in Psychology
Genderbias refers to the tendency we have to hold stereotypical or discriminatory attitudes towards people based solely on their gender. This not only affects our ability to socialize in meaningful ways, but it can also lead to unequal opportunities and treatment for others.
Signs of gender bias may include:
How to Overcome Gender BiasAccording to Yadush, “To recognize and work through gender bias, individuals should challenge their assumptions and stereotypes and use gender-neutral language.”Yadush adds that it’s also important to listen to and believe individuals about their experiences around gender bias and discrimination.
How to Overcome Gender Bias
According to Yadush, “To recognize and work through gender bias, individuals should challenge their assumptions and stereotypes and use gender-neutral language.”Yadush adds that it’s also important to listen to and believe individuals about their experiences around gender bias and discrimination.
According to Yadush, “To recognize and work through gender bias, individuals should challenge their assumptions and stereotypes and use gender-neutral language.”
Yadush adds that it’s also important to listen to and believe individuals about their experiences around gender bias and discrimination.
Similarly,ageismis the tendency we have to make judgments or assumptions about another person simply because of their age.
This tends to negatively impact people who are either young or old, as we subconsciously hold stereotypes about their capabilities or the “known characteristics” of their generation.
Signs of ageism may include:
Ageism and Its Impact on Mental Health
Yadush says that ageism has been shown to have serious effects on themental health, physical health, and overall quality of life in the older adult population. It can hinder their ability to socialize, find employment, or make meaningful friendships.
For young people, it can also impact their ability to be taken seriously in professional settings. This is also referred to as “youngism.”
How to Overcome Ageism“To help combat ageism, seek out mentorship from individuals of all ages and be willing to learn from those with different lived experiences,” Yadush suggests. “When you do recognize ageism in the workplace or community, speak out and be an advocate as others may not have the opportunity or support to do so.”
How to Overcome Ageism
“To help combat ageism, seek out mentorship from individuals of all ages and be willing to learn from those with different lived experiences,” Yadush suggests. “When you do recognize ageism in the workplace or community, speak out and be an advocate as others may not have the opportunity or support to do so.”
The contrast effect tends to sneak up on us. It’s a cognitive bias where the comparison of two things influences your perception of both.
Other signs of the contrast effect include:
Karri Francisco, LMFT[The contrast effect] can lead to inaccurate perceptions and judgments of individuals being evaluated in comparison to another.
Karri Francisco, LMFT
[The contrast effect] can lead to inaccurate perceptions and judgments of individuals being evaluated in comparison to another.
How the Contrast Effect May Play Out in Everyday Life
Here are some examples of what the contrast effect may look like in the real world:
How to Overcome the Contrast EffectWhen making decisions, try to be as objective as possible. If you do have to make any comparisons, it can help to take breaks betweencomparisonsand evaluations in order to clear your mind of influences, and to focus on objective criteria rather than subjective impressions.
How to Overcome the Contrast Effect
When making decisions, try to be as objective as possible. If you do have to make any comparisons, it can help to take breaks betweencomparisonsand evaluations in order to clear your mind of influences, and to focus on objective criteria rather than subjective impressions.
How People’s Prejudices Develop
Summary
We’re all prone to cognitive distortions. Sometimes we’re on the receiving end, while other times we’re the ones making quick judgments. Reflecting on where these biases may exist in your daily life is the first step in understanding and overcoming them.
How to Be Less Judgmental
3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Halo effect.Batres C, Shiramizu V.Examining the “attractiveness halo effect” across cultures.Curr Psychol. Published online August 25, 2022. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03575-0Francioli SP, North MS.Youngism: The content, causes, and consequences of prejudices toward younger adults.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2021;150(12):2591-2612. doi:10.1037/xge0001064
3 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Halo effect.Batres C, Shiramizu V.Examining the “attractiveness halo effect” across cultures.Curr Psychol. Published online August 25, 2022. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03575-0Francioli SP, North MS.Youngism: The content, causes, and consequences of prejudices toward younger adults.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2021;150(12):2591-2612. doi:10.1037/xge0001064
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Halo effect.Batres C, Shiramizu V.Examining the “attractiveness halo effect” across cultures.Curr Psychol. Published online August 25, 2022. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03575-0Francioli SP, North MS.Youngism: The content, causes, and consequences of prejudices toward younger adults.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2021;150(12):2591-2612. doi:10.1037/xge0001064
Merriam-Webster Dictionary.Halo effect.
Batres C, Shiramizu V.Examining the “attractiveness halo effect” across cultures.Curr Psychol. Published online August 25, 2022. doi:10.1007/s12144-022-03575-0
Francioli SP, North MS.Youngism: The content, causes, and consequences of prejudices toward younger adults.J Exp Psychol Gen. 2021;150(12):2591-2612. doi:10.1037/xge0001064
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