Cognitive Biases and the Brain: Thanks, Evolution! (BR 11)

Conspiracy Clearinghouse

EPISODE 126 | Cognitive Biases and the Brain: Thanks, Evolution! (Because Reasons 11)

The first of two episodes looking at cognitive biases - this one at how memory works and how we prevent input overload by filtering out information. Hopefully, this will give us some insight into why people think they way they do.

The primary source material for this is the Cognitive Biases Codex, created by Buster Benson and John Manoogian III, as used by the EU's Marie Curie CogNovo program for Conspiracy-Theories.EU.

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SECTIONS

1. MEMORIES CAN'T WAIT - Misinformation effect, testing effect, processing effect, spacing effect, Google effect, two types of absentmindedness, next-in-line effect, list length effect, serial position effect, suffix effect, part-list cueing effect, peak-end rule, duration neglect
2. Fading affect bias, negativity bias, leveling and sharpening, Maude sees a Black man, suggestibility; false memory (UFO abductions, Satanic Panic), misattribution of memory, cryptoamnesia, source confusion (eyewitness testimony)
3. TOO MUCH INFORMATION - The availability heuristic, repetition makes it true - the illusory truth effect and the mere exposure effect, attentional bias, context effect, mood-congruent memory bias, cue-dependent forgetting, the frequency illusion and Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon, the base rate fallacy, the empathy gap (cold-to-hot and hot-to-cold), omission bias
4. The bizarreness effect, humor effect, isolation effect (Von Resteroff effect), and picture superiority effect; bias blind spot, the introspection illusion, naïve cynicism, confirmation bias, congruence bias, choice-supportive bias (post-purchase bias), selective perception and the ostrich effect, observer-expectancy effect (also experimenter effect), subjective validation (the personal validation effect) helps conspiracy theory formation, the Semmelweis reflex, the continued influence effect (people don't unlearn mis- or disinformation easily once it's been integrated)
5. Anchoring, conservatism, distinction bias, contrast bias, the focusing effect, the framing effect, the money illusion or price illusion and the price of milk; perceiving change - Weber and Fechner, the discrimination threshold, Numerical Cognition

• Music by Fanette Ronjat

More Info

• Cognitive biases codex
• Cognitive Biases on Conspiracy-Theories.EU
• Conspiracy-Theories.EU website
• About CogNovo
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions website
• What Is Cognitive Bias? 7 Examples & Resources (Incl. Codex) on Positive Psychology
• List of Cognitive Biases and Heuristics on The Decision Lab
• How Our Brains Make Memories in Smithsonian
• Psychology study uncovers new details about the cognitive underpinnings of belief in conspiracy theories on PsyPost
• Conspiracy theories in New Scientist
• 24 cognitive biases that are warping your perception of reality on the World Economic Forum
• Conspiracy theory and cognitive style: a worldview
• Beliefs in conspiracy theories and the need for cognitive closure
• Social Media, Cognitive Reflection, and Conspiracy Beliefs
• Cognitive Bias articles on ScienceDirect
• Cognitive Biases and Brain Biology Help Explain Why Facts Don’t Change Minds at the University of Connecticut
• Cognitive Bias 101: What It Is and How To Overcome It at the Cleveland Clinic
• 4 widespread cognitive biases and how doctors can overcome them at the American medical Association
• How Cognitive Biases Influence the Way You Think and Act on VeryWellMind
• 24 cognitive biases stuffing up your thinking plus cards at yourbias.is
• Identify Cognitive Biases in Business Decision‑Making at Mailchimp

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