cognitive biases

• what are cognitive biases?

  cognitive errors / irrational beliefs that are inconsistent with reality > leads to maladaptive (destructive) behaviour > e.g. A
• example of irrational thinking

  drinking helps escape problems > begin AB
• ATTENTIONAL BIAS

  >selective processing - filters out relevant from irrelevant = attention

  > A focus more attention on stimuli related to A and ignore other stim

  > increases motivation to engage

  > A related info captures attention + reinforces desire to repeat B
• ILLUSION OF CONTROL

  > faulty belief that you can control vents / outcomes that in reality you have no control over
• REPRESENTATIVENESS / GAMBLER'S FALLACY

  > fallacy = unrealistic belief

  > if something happens more often than normal > less likely to happen in future

  > mainly influences gamblers
• ATTENTIONAL BIAS - EXAMPLE

  gambler walks down street of shops > attention focussed on betting shop
• ILLUSION OF CONTROL - EXAMPLE

  use the same slot machine with the belief they'll choose that machine then win

  choose lucky numbers for lottery ticket rather than lucky dip
• REPRESENTATIVENESS / GAMBLER'S FALLACY - EXAMPLE

  in a casino, if red has come up a lot, may place bet on black believing red won't come up again