Common Biases and Logical Fallacies

Common Biases

confirmation bias - the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information that confirms one’s pre-existing beliefs, while ignoring contradictory evidence

normalcy bias - the tendency to disbelieve or minimize information, especially warnings, because ‘things like this don't happen’ or ‘life will go back to normal soon’

recency bias - the tendency to overemphasize more recent events or data and undervalue earlier information, even when older data are equally or more important

Common Logical Fallacies 

• Ad hominem - shifts argument from topic to attacking character or motives of the person making the argument 

• red herring - introducing irrelevant point to shift focus

• straw man - arguing against an inaccurate or hyperbolic representation of the opponent

• equivocation - using multiple meanings and unclear phrasing to confuse or mislead

• slippery slope - arguing for a series of events that will allegedly occur without evidence 

• hasty generalization - jumping to a conclusion based on limited evidence 

• appeal to authority that is irrelevant or overstated

• false dilemma / false dichotomy - claiming there are only two options that are often extreme opposites while ignoring other more reasonable options in between 

• bandwagon fallacy - it’s right because it’s popular

• appeal to ignorance / burden of proof fallacy - It must be true because it hasn’t been disproven

• circular argument - the same statement (often just re-worded) is both the premise and the conclusion 

• appeal to pity - trying to sway the hearer through an emotional appeal 

• causal fallacy - implying a relationship between two things that doesn’t actually exist 

• appeal to hypocrisy - responding with reactive criticism rather than to the claim itself - example - Neither do you!! (1)

(1) https://www.grammarly.com/blog/rhetorical-devices/logical-fallacies/