Willful ignorance is built on the deliberate avoidance of evidence that doesn’t match one’s existing beliefs. This can be a defense mechanism as it allows us to create a world we feel safe in, akin to confirmation bias. However, it is also often apparent in behavior that is socially harmful.…
Do you sometimes feel that everyone is against you? That the world has it in for you? Or that people are out to get you? You could be suffering from a persecution complex. Those statements might sound pretty outrageous, and to most of us, they are. However, did you know…
Cognitive biases shape our everyday experiences and influence our decision-making. But one bias, in particular, can be extremely dangerous – the outcome bias. What Is an Outcome Bias? The outcome bias can make you focus on the end result and ignore the risks along the way. When we already know…
Status quo bias is a powerful cognitive bias that can affect you so severely that it leads you to live a mediocre life. There are many different cognitive biases which can have a powerful impact on our psyches and our lives. One of the most common ones is status quo…
Cognitive effects can distort the way you think, increase anxiousness, and lead to numerous other difficulties. However, they are usually thought patterns viewing reality in an inaccurate and, typically, negative way. An example might be thinking “I am the unluckiest person on the planet”. As a result of this sort…
Projective identification is a complex psychological phenomenon that can be used as a defense mechanism and as a tool of interpersonal communication. In this post, we will explore how this theory is defined and consider some examples of how it works in everyday life. What is projection? To understand projective…
We all like to think we are in control of our decisions, but these are often influenced by many factors around us, leading our thought processes in one direction. What is distinction bias? Distinction bias is the influence of making a choice when presented with two similar options side by…
The slippery slope argument is frequently used in a variety of contexts from our own internal reasoning to political propaganda. It takes the view that a certain action will lead to a specific chain of events, usually resulting in a negative outcome. But how helpful is this argument and why…
