We humans have a tendency to think that we are smarter than we actually are. That's not entirely a bad thing because it is the basis of self-confidence, which can sometimes be helpful. However, there are times where we THINK we are making judgements and decisions rationally and logically, but in truth we are committing grave errors called biases and fallacies.

In this series of articles, we will take a look at some of the more common biases and fallacies. Be ready to reflect upon yourself, because I can guarantee that 99% of you have done at least 1 of these mistakes!

Achoring Bias

The first thing you judge influences your judgement of everything that follows.

When did you do this - when you shop or negotiate for houses, cars, and salaries, if the initial price given to you is high, you will feel like you got a "good deal" after the other person gives you a huge "discount" from the initial price.

Sunk Cost Fallacy

You irrationally cling to things that have already cost you something.

When did you do this - when you bought a movie ticket a week ago, but on the day of the movie, the traffic is bad, the weather is bad, and you have a deadline to catch. However, you are still willing to spend hours in traffic, get drenched in the rain, and procrastinate on your deadline because you feel that you've "already spent the money" on the movie ticket.

Confirmation Bias

You look for ways to justify your existing beliefs.

When did you do this - when you are trying to prove your point, you only search and read articles that support your point instead of trying to check if you are wrong. You google for "the benefits of A" and "the disadvantages of B", instead of "A vs B".

Barnum Effect

You see personal specifics in vague statements by filling in the gaps.

When did you do this - I'm sorry but if you're a fan of psychics, astrology, and zodiac signs, you are a victim of the barnum effect. You read a vague statement such as "today you will meet someone who is nice to you" and you think "oh yeah, someone held the door for me today"! You read another statement saying "today might be your unlucky day" and you think "oh my, I DID lose my pen today". These statements apply to almost anyone, but you make them specific and personal in your own mind.

Backfire Effect

When your core beliefs are challenged, you believe them even more strongly.

When did you do this - when I just told you that astrology and zodiac signs are fake, you might tend to find more ways to support your belief that it is true. Unfortunately, this effect is also prominent among anti-vaxxers and flat-earthers (please don't be one of them).

So, here are just 5 out of a ton more that we'll be going through. Have you done or experienced any of these biases and fallacies before? Knowing this now, would you be more careful in the future?