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Attentional Bias

Definition

Attentional bias is a psychological term that refers to the tendency of our perception to be affected by our recurring thoughts. In other words, we pay more attention to things that we are emotionally connected with or think about frequently.

Analogy

Imagine you're at a party and there's lots of noise and chatter around you. But if someone starts talking about your favorite band, even from across the room, your ears perk up and you start paying attention to that conversation. That's attentional bias in action - your mind automatically focusing on what matters most to you.

Related terms

Selective Attention: This is the process by which individuals focus on specific features of their environment while ignoring others. It's like shining a spotlight on something while leaving everything else in darkness.

Cognitive Bias: This is a systematic error in thinking that affects the decisions and judgments that people make. It's like wearing tinted glasses; they color what you see.

Confirmation Bias: This is the tendency for people to favor information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs or values. It’s like only picking out books from the library that align with what you already believe or know.