Availability bias: Evaluating the probability of events by the events that come to mind first. An example is a young mother refusing to vaccinate their child after reading a news article on the topic. The information about vaccines was readily available, and the mother’s decision was based solely on the article’s information. Omission bias: Preferring harm caused by omissions over equal or lesser harm caused by choosing to participate in an action. An example is a patient diagnosed with atrial fibrillation declining to take a blood thinner because they fear hemorrhagic stroke more than ischemic stroke. The patient is choosing between possibly equal consequences. Anchoring bias: Tending to make a decision or judgement based on initial information rather than all information gathered. An example is making a diagnosis based entirely on the initial symptoms shared rather than all subsequent symptoms. Confirmation bias: Choosing to review only information that is in favor of the person’s belief. An example is choosing to review only information that is pertinent to the provider’s previously established diagnosis and dismissing any data that do not support the decided upon diagnosis. Overconfidence bias: Overestimating one’s ability, knowledge, or understanding. An example is a provider who is certain they are correct in their diagnosis and thus refuses to order additional tests to ensure accuracy of the diagnosis, to consider other forms of treatment, or to thoroughly assess the patient for other possible diagnoses. Could you relate to any of these biases? Or perhaps an example stood out to you as something you have seen in your professional practice. There are many biases, and in the scenarios shared above, each bias caused an effect that could have potentially produced a negative outcome for the patient.
Video: Cognitive Bias
Let us do a quick recap of why many of our first impressions are usually wrong. ● Our brain filters the information around us, which may be filtering out what is essential information that was needed in our decision-making process. ● We fill in the story's blanks with imagined details based on our own assumptions, meanings, and stories from previous experiences. ● Quick decisions are made as a self-serving protective mechanism using the emotional parts of our brain rather than the critical and analytical thinking parts of our brain. ● We develop a process in our brain through implicit memory that includes previous memories, experiences, and beliefs that continually reinforce our reactions as the correct action or belief. Self-Assessment Question 1 Which area of the brain is mostly involved when the brain codes threatening? a. Precuneus b. Temporoparietal junction c. Amygdala d. Prefrontal cortex
Self-Assessment Question 2 What information does our brain categorize at the beginning of an interaction? a. Age
b. Weight c. Speech d. All the above
TERMINOLOGY
There are other terms you will see highlighted and discussed within the context of bias. We will break these terms down to ensure you have a good understanding of what they are and why they are discussed in the context of bias (Witter, 2022). Discrimination is a behavior that treats people unequally because of their group membership or association. Example: A female employee receives less compensation for equivalent work when compared to her male counterpart. Prejudice is an explicit opinion, prejudgment, or attitude about a group or the group’s individual members. Example: A middle-class citizen referring to someone whose income is less than theirs as a “second-class citizen” or “lower class.” Stereotype is an exaggerated belief, image, or distorted truth about a person or group.
Example: The belief that females are not as capable within careers fields that require a high proficiency in mathematical understanding. Video: Prejudice, Discrimination, Stereotype
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Book Code: PCUS1525
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