Question 1

Is cognitive bias the same as making a mistake?

Accepted Answer

No. Bias is a systematic, directional pattern that predictably recurs under specific conditions, distinct from a random, one-off error.

Question 2

Can awareness of bias alone prevent it?

Accepted Answer

General awareness helps but is often insufficient on its own; structural safeguards, like pre-committed decision rules, tend to be more effective at countering a known specific bias.

Question 3

Why do some people seem more prone to certain biases than others?

Accepted Answer

Individual tendencies, past experience, and the specific decision domain all shape which biases are most likely to operate for a given person.

Question 4

Can bias actually be corrected for, or only reduced?

Accepted Answer

Because bias is systematic rather than random, specific structural countermeasures can meaningfully reduce its influence, though complete elimination is generally not realistic.

Cognitive Bias: Meaning and How to Work With It