False Uniqueness Bias ❎
🧠 Psych - 71 / 100
Hey, there.
Today, we will be talking about the False Uniqueness Bias.
What is it?
The tendency of an individual to underestimate the extent to which other people share the same positive attitudes and behaviors.
Examples -
You may think that your ability to play some sports is special & unique. However, in reality, you don't consider the millions of other people who are just as good or even better at sports than you are.
Where does it occur?
This bias is thought to be the result of a self-enhancement or self-protective motivation: By underestimating the number of other people who behave desirably, the person can feel distinctively positive.
On the other hand, perceiving one’s undesirable behaviors or attributes as more common than they actually are can create a feeling of “safety in numbers,” and help to justify irresponsible practices.
Why do I need to know?
False uniqueness permits the individual to think he or she has exceptional positive traits and behaves better than most other people.
This perception may support general feelings of self-worth, but it also might contribute to overconfidence and lead to negative impressions of peers.
Takeaways: -
A lot of people share similar traits & the uniqueness is very low among them.
Prevent yourself from getting overconfident in aware situations.
References & Studies: -
https://psychology.iresearchnet.com/social-psychology/social-cognition/false-uniqueness-bias/
https://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=False+Uniqueness+Effect
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