The hottest Cognitive Biases Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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We need to talk about astrology

Granted • 18608 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
🔬 Science Cognitive Biases
  1. Astrology does not have scientific backing and can lead to harmful stereotypes and discrimination.
  2. Studies have shown that zodiac signs do not correspond to personality traits, and astrology cannot predict life outcomes.
  3. Belief in astrology may indicate a lack of critical thinking skills and could lead to acceptance of other unfounded beliefs.

How to feel bad and be wrong

Experimental History • 40381 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
📖 Philosophy Cognitive Biases
  1. Our brains often take shortcuts when facing tough questions, making it easier to answer simple ones instead. This can lead us to overlook important issues in our lives.
  2. Many people measure their worth and productivity based on how hard they feel they are working, instead of setting clear goals. This can cause unnecessary stress and feelings of inadequacy.
  3. When assessing things like the state of the economy or the quality of a school, we tend to rely on popular opinion rather than personal experience. This leads to judgments that may not reflect reality.

Read the Damn Article

Polymathic Being • 102 implied HN points • 30 Nov 25
🎭️ Culture Cognitive Biases
  1. People often react to headlines without reading the full piece, which leads to strawman arguments, misinformation, and pointless online fights.
  2. Short, provocative headlines and algorithms exploit our cognitive biases and emotional reactions to steer what we believe and share.
  3. You can resist this by slowing down, recognizing your biases, avoiding outrage engines, and choosing to read and think before you comment or share.

Bridging the Gap: Navigating the Curse of Knowledge in UX

UX Psychology • 178 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Cognitive Biases
  1. The curse of knowledge is a cognitive bias where experts find it hard to imagine not knowing what they know, this can impact different fields, including UX.
  2. Cognitive biases like the curse of knowledge stem from how our brains process and remember information, leading to errors in thinking and decision-making.
  3. To overcome the curse of knowledge, involve users in the design process, seek feedback from colleagues, and communicate in plain language to ensure better collaboration and user experience.

The Magnet 75

The Magnet • 334 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🔬 Science Cognitive Biases
  1. The U.S. has shot down 4 unidentified aerial objects recently.
  2. Baader-Meinhof phenomenon involves suddenly noticing something more often after learning about it.
  3. Pitted Windshield Panic of 1954 was caused by normal driving conditions, not cosmic threats.
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illusory expertise

Midnight Musings • 39 implied HN points • 05 Dec 22
📖 Philosophy Cognitive Biases
  1. People often think they know more than they really do, which is called the Dunning-Kruger effect. This means we can be really confident but also very clueless at the same time.
  2. It's common to focus on sharing our opinions rather than listening to others. This can lead to misunderstandings and make it harder to work together and empathize with different viewpoints.
  3. Knowledge comes in two types: explicit (things you can easily write down) and tacit (things learned through experience). True understanding requires experience, not just knowing facts.

Understanding the Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect: The Intersection of Knowledge, Media, and Belief

Wayne's Earth • 7 HN points • 26 Dec 23
🚌 Education Cognitive Biases
  1. The Gell-Mann Amnesia effect points out how we tend to doubt news within our expertise but believe information outside of it, showing inconsistencies in our media perception.
  2. Cognitive biases like confirmation bias and the Dunning-Kruger effect play a role in why we selectively scrutinize information based on our expertise.
  3. In the digital age, the internet and social media have intensified the Gell-Mann Amnesia effect, making it crucial for individuals to cultivate critical thinking and media literacy to navigate the vast sea of information.

Strategically delusional

Optimally Irrational • 15 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🔬 Science Cognitive Biases
  1. Many people tend to overestimate their abilities and standing relative to others because they derive pleasure from thinking they are better than they actually are.
  2. Overconfidence can lead to costly mistakes in the real world, even though it might offer benefits in social interactions where it can influence others' behaviors.
  3. Self-deception, fueled by the belief in our own lies, may help us deceive others more effectively, especially in situations where credibility is crucial.

What is a Bias?

Optimally Irrational • 6 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🔬 Science Cognitive Biases
  1. The definition of bias relies on the notion of error and comparison to a correct standard.
  2. Rational decisions align with personal plans and goals, not just maximizing satisfaction.
  3. Biases may not always be errors but could be optimal solutions under specific constraints.

Be aware: Linear Thinking

Marcio Klepacz • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Cognitive Biases
  1. Linear thinking is when people keep using the same solution, hoping for better results, but that often doesn't work. It can even lead to worse outcomes when pushed too far.
  2. Just because you put in more effort doesn't guarantee you will get more results. Sometimes, it's about working smarter, not harder.
  3. Be mindful of the limits of things that seem positive, as pushing them too far can lead to unexpected negative results. Always consider possible consequences before acting.

2025-12-06 Sa: Food for Thought...

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 0 implied HN points • 06 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Cognitive Biases
  1. Human psychology can exhibit failure modes that come from our cooperative, anthology-style collective intelligence, where group-created knowledge shapes thinking in subtle ways.
  2. The idea is currently a saved note meant to be developed into a fuller piece later, after the thoughts and analysis have had time to settle.
  3. This material is positioned as paid subscriber content, restricted to Sustainers-level access behind a paywall.