The Nature of Cognitive Biases

Cognitive biases are systematic inclinations in human thinking that simplify information processing. These biases, such as the confirmation bias and the fundamental attribution error, stem from the brain's need to process information quickly and reduce the mental effort for decision-making. They serve various psychological purposes such as emotional protection and maintenance of social harmony. While historically valuable for survival, cognitive biases can lead to errors in judgment and decision-making in complex modern environments.