Bias
Definition
Bias is a predisposition or prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.
Analogy
Think of bias like the tilt of a pinball machine. If the machine is tilted to one side, the ball will naturally roll that direction no matter how you play. Similarly, if someone has a bias, their thoughts and actions will lean towards that bias regardless of other factors.
Related terms
Confirmation Bias: This is when people seek out information and data that confirm their existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory information.
Implicit Bias: These are unconscious biases we have towards certain groups of people. They can influence our decisions and actions without us even realizing it.
Cognitive Bias: This refers to systematic errors in thinking that affect the decisions and judgments that people make.
"Bias" appears in:
Subjects (5)
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (14)
What form of bias may undermine the validity of an argument in psychology?
What type of bias leads people to disregard risk after experiencing a series of successes?
In what bias does a person underestimate the influence of external factors and overestimate the influence of personal factors when evaluating someone else's behavior?
What type of bias can lead an individual to believe that they are less likely to experience a negative event?
What bias was identified through the seminal work 'Heuristics and Biases' by Tversky & Kahneman?
What bias tends to lead people to attribute positive outcomes to their own characteristics but blame negative outcomes on external factors?
Which bias most likely leads to the misinterpretation of ambiguous evidence as supportive of one’s existing beliefs?
Which bias typically results in maintaining beliefs despite evidence to the contrary?
Which bias involves judging a person on the basis of a single characteristic that influences our overall impression?
How can the halo effect bias influence perceptual set in object recognition?
What type of bias is it when a person's judgment is influenced by preconceived ideas or notions?
Which type of bias can be reduced by implementing strategies that promote perspective taking and empathy?
How does the fundamental attribution error contribute to bias and discrimination in psychological practices?
How can anthropology's study of cultural relativism enhance our comprehension of bias and discrimination in psychology?
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