The results of an election, for example, often seem more obvious after the tallies have been counted.
They say that hindsight is 20/20.
In other words, things always seem more obvious and predictableafterthey have already happened.
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Inpsychology, this is what is referred to as thehindsight bias.
This bias can have a major impact on not only your beliefs but also on your behaviors.
This article takes a closer look at how the hindsight bias works.
What Is Hindsight Bias?
After an event, people often believe that theyknewthe outcome of the event before it actually happened.
This is why it is often referred to as the “I knew it all along” phenomenon.
The phenomenon has been demonstrated in a number of different situations, including politics and sporting events.
In experiments, people often recall their predictions before the event as much stronger than they actually were.
High school and college students often experience hindsight bias during the course of their studies.
As they read their course texts, the information may seem easy.
“Of course,” students often think after reading the results of a study or experiment.
“I knew that all along.”
This can be a dangerous habit for students to fall into, however, particularly when test time approaches.
By assuming that they already knew the information, they might fail to adequately study the material.
Causes of Hindsight Bias
So what exactly causes thisbiasto happen?
They might also be emotional, such as investing too much of yourself in a bad relationship.
Hindsight bias can lead to overconfidence in your ability to predict what is going to happen.
This can lead to poor decision-making and can affect how you assign blame for events.
By taking steps to prevent hindsight bias, you might help improve the accuracy of your judgments.
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