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Impact Bias: Definition, Examples and Effects

Impact bias is a cognitive bias that causes people to overestimate the importance or effect of an event. It is a form of cognitive distortion that can lead to irrational decision-making and inaccurate predictions. Impact bias is a common phenomenon that can have a significant impact on our lives.


Definition: Impact bias is the tendency to overestimate the importance or effect of an event. It is a cognitive distortion that can lead to irrational decision-making and inaccurate predictions. Impact bias is a form of cognitive bias that can lead to inaccurate assessments of the importance of an event or situation.


Examples: Impact bias can manifest in a variety of ways. For example, people may overestimate the importance of a job interview, believing that it will have a major impact on their future career prospects. Similarly, people may overestimate the importance of a single test score, believing that it will have a major impact on their academic success.


Effects: Impact bias can have a significant impact on our lives. It can lead to irrational decision-making and inaccurate predictions. It can also lead to anxiety and stress, as people overestimate the importance of an event or situation. Additionally, impact bias can lead to a lack of motivation, as people overestimate the importance of an event and become overwhelmed by the perceived magnitude of the task.


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? Takeour 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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