Learning and Cognition
View all topicsCognitive biases
IB Psychology · 2027 Syllabus
Inquiry Question & Thinking Prompt
- Why is it so incredibly difficult for a human being to admit they are wrong, even when presented with undeniable facts?
- How does our brain's desire to save mental energy (being a "cognitive miser") make us vulnerable to manipulation by marketers and salespeople?
- Can simply learning about cognitive biases actually prevent you from falling victim to them in the future?
Learning Objective
To understand how heuristics lead to predictable errors in thinking.
📖 Definition / Conceptual Understanding
Cognitive biases are systematic pattern of deviation from rationality or objectivity in thinking, judgment and decision making which are predictable when people rely on heuristics (mental shortcuts) to process information and make rapid decisions.Confirmation bias refers to the cognitive tendency to seek out, interpret, favour, and recall information to support one’s pre existing beliefs or hypotheses, while simultaneously ignoring and undervaluing evidence that contradicts these beliefs rather than objectively evaluating all available evidence. Anchoring bias refers to the tendency to rely too heavily—or "anchor"—on the very first piece of information offered when making decisions or estimates, even when that information is irrelevant and arbitrary. Once an anchor is set, people tend to adjust their judgements insufficiently away from it, meaning their final decision remains biased toward the initial anchor.
⚙️ Mechanism / Explanation
Cognitive bias results because we rely on System 1 thinking. To save cognitive energy, we use heuristics (shortcuts) instead of rational System 2 analysis.Confirmation bias creates an "echo chamber" in the mind, protecting our ego and saving us the mental strain of having to rewrite our schemas (accommodation). It lead individuals to construct a skewed and overly confident view of reality, often resulting in poor or irrational choices. Anchoring bias takes place especially when we are uncertain about a value, System 1 uses the initial number (the anchor) as a starting point. We then adjust away from the anchor, but because System 2 is lazy, we usually stop adjusting way too soon, leading to an inaccurate final judgment.
📌 Other Relevant Information
Cognitive biases are systematic deviations from rationality in judgment. They are the direct consequence of humans acting as "cognitive misers." Because our environment is flooded with an overwhelming ocean of data, our brains must use heuristics—fast, automatic System 1 shortcuts—to make sense of the world. While usually efficient, these shortcuts cause predictable errors.Confirmation bias occurs because processing information that contradicts our existing schemas causes psychological discomfort (cognitive dissonance) and requires heavy mental effort to resolve. To avoid this, our brain selectively filters reality to confirm what we already know. Anchoring bias occurs during numerical estimations. When exposed to an initial, arbitrary value (the anchor), our brain subconsciously uses it as a reference point. Even if we know the anchor is entirely random, its presence skews our final estimation toward that initial number because our subsequent mental adjustments are almost always insufficient.
🃏 Scenario Flip Cards
Click a card to reveal the explanation. Each scenario feeds directly into a Paper 1B practice question — use "Practice P1B" to attempt it.
🔬 Common Studies
These studies feed directly into Paper 2B practice questions.
📋 What is Required
Paper 1A— Short answer (4 marks)
Describe one cognitive bias with reference to one study.
View mark scheme
9 marks: Accurate description of bias and study with a clear link.
Paper 1B— Scenario response (6 marks)
Evaluate research on one cognitive bias.
View mark scheme
22 marks: Detailed knowledge, evaluation of research, critical thinking.
💬 ATL Discussion & Theory of Knowledge
ATL Discussion Questions
Factual
What is a cognitive bias?
Conceptual
How do heuristics help and hinder survival?
Debatable
Are humans fundamentally irrational thinkers?
Link to Theory of Knowledge
If our brains are naturally wired to seek out information that validates our pre-existing beliefs (and ignore information that contradicts them), to what extent is it possible for any human being to be truly objective? Is our perception of "reality" just a reflection of what we already want to believe?
🔗 Link to Concepts
Select a concept to explore how it connects to this topic. These connections also feed into Paper 1C practice questions.
Link to Measurement
The Link: How can psychologists accurately measure the extent to which a cognitive bias has distorted someone's thinking?Application: Because the internal mechanisms of System 1 are unconscious, researchers must measure cognitive bias indirectly by quantifying the behavioral output. In anchoring studies, the bias is mathematically measured by the distance between the final estimate and the original anchor. In confirmation bias studies (like Wason's 2-4-6 task), it is measured by counting the frequency of confirming questions asked versus disconfirming questions asked.Since we can only measure the final behavioral output, how can researchers be absolutely certain they are measuring an unconscious cognitive bias, rather than simply measuring a participant's lack of motivation or mathematical uncertainty?
🧠 Quick Quiz
What is the primary definition of a cognitive bias?
Cognitive biases occur when the brain uses which of the following to simplify information processing?
Which of the following is a characteristic of cognitive biases?
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