Applications of Bias Theory

These links go to my posts on the Bias and Belief blog.

• Psychokinesis and the Illusion of Control: Some people are convinced that they can move or bend objects purely with their minds. They have had no success demonstrating this power in a scientific context, after centuries of trying. A well-established cognitive illusion explains why they might be so convinced.
• Driving: Why are there so many idiots on the road? Driving is one of those areas where people are very biased judges of their own skills.
• Bias and human conflict
• Bias and war: Why hawks win: Almost all the documented biases affect the evaluation of military action, and in the same direction.
• Motivating Other People: Influencing someone's self-image turns out to be an effective way of motivating them to do something; much more effective than offering them a reward.
• Homophobia and hypocrisy: Straight men with the most homophobic attitudes are the most likely to be excited by homoerotic stimuli.
• Irrational optimism ruins your health, work and life: It's not healthy to be depressed, but to excessive optimism is both very common and potentially disastrous.