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Halo Effect: Definition, Examples, and Effects

Updated: Jun 2, 2023

The Halo Effect is a cognitive bias that affects the way we perceive and judge people and objects. It occurs when a person’s overall impression of someone or something influences their opinion of that person or object’s individual characteristics. In other words, the Halo Effect is when we make assumptions about a person or thing based on our overall impression of them.


Examples: The Halo Effect can be seen in many aspects of life. For example, when a person is attractive, we tend to assume they are also intelligent, kind, and successful. Similarly, when a product is expensive, we tend to assume it is of higher quality than a cheaper alternative.


Effects: The Halo Effect can have both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, it can lead to people being more open to new experiences and ideas. On the negative side, it can lead to people making snap judgments about people or objects without considering all the facts. It can also lead to people making decisions based on their own biases rather than on the facts.


Do you want to expand your knowledge on this topic? Read our full in-depth article on cognitive biases.


Do you have extra 15 minutes today? Take our fun and interactive quiz to learn which of 16 reasoning styles you use, your overall level of rationality, and what you can do now to improve your rationality skills.

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