The Halo Effect: A Common Bias That Shapes Our View of People

The halo effect is a good name for a common bias that plays a large role in shaping our view of people and situations. The tendency to like or dislike everything about a person, including things you have not observed, is known as the halo effect. You meet a woman named Joan at a party and find her personable and easy to talk to. Now her name comes up as someone who could be asked to contribute to a charity. What do you know about Joan's generosity? Because there is little reason to believe that people who are agreeable in social situations are also generous contributors to charities.