Mark wants to buy a new smartphone. He reads 50 reviews. 45 reviews say the battery life is terrible, but 5 reviews say it’s the best camera ever. Mark ignores the 45 negative ones and buys it because he 'knew' it was a great phone.
Confirmation Bias. Discussion: How much do we let our desires override clear evidence?
A very famous and handsome actor starts giving medical advice about a new 'superfood' diet on Instagram. Even though he has no medical degree, millions of people start following the diet because he seems so healthy and successful.
Halo Effect. Discussion: Why do we attribute expertise to people just because they are attractive or successful in an unrelated field?
Sarah refuses to travel by plane because she watched a documentary about a plane crash last week. However, she feels perfectly safe driving her car to work every day, even though statistically, car accidents are much more frequent.
Availability Bias. Discussion: How does the media's focus on "dramatic events" distort our sense of safety?
Lucas sees a gym membership advertised for $200 a month. He thinks it’s too expensive. Then, he sees a 'Special Offer' where the price is crossed out and changed from $500 to $250. Suddenly, $250 feels like a great deal .
Anchoring Bias. Discussion: In what other areas of life do companies use 'anchors' to manipulate our perception of value?
Julia never liked a specific style of chunky sneakers; she thought they were ugly. However, after seeing all her friends and favorite influencers wearing them for a month, she goes to the mall and buys a pair, claiming she now 'loves' them
Bandwagon Effect. Discussion: Is it possible to have a truly original taste in the age of viral trends?
During a first date, Kevin arrives 5 minutes late and spills a bit of water on the table. For the rest of the night, his date, Elena, assumes he is a messy, disorganized, and disrespectful person, even though he was kind to the waiter
Halo Effect. Discussion: Can a bad first impression ever be truly erased, or is our brain too "efficient" to change its mind?
