4 Cognitive Biases I Still Fall For As A Psych Student

4 Cognitive Biases I Still Fall For as a Psychology Student

Hey lovebugs, thanks for dropping by Undergrad Unfiltered! You know the drill: unfiltered thoughts straight from one college psych major trying to make sense of school, people, and herself. Let’s get into this week’s topic (a gentle self-callout) about four common cognitive biases I still experience sometimes! 

You’d think that being a psychology major would make you immune to cognitive biases—like if I’m studying them, shouldn’t I know better? That’s what I believed when I first started college, but the more I learn, the more I realize how easy it is to understand a cognitive bias in theory, yet still fall for it in real life! And sometimes, they can sneak in my thoughts more than I’d like to admit!

Here are four common cognitive biases I still catch myself doing, even after studying psychology and growing an awareness of how the mind works.

1. Confirmation Bias: My Anxiety’s Favorite Counterpart

First up is confirmation bias, which is basically our brain’s way of filtering information to  confirm whatever we already believe. It’s the tendency to actively seek out or interpret information in a way that supports our preexisting ideas, while ignoring anything that might challenge them!  For me, this bias shows up strongest when I’m anxious. If I’m convinced someone’s mad at me, I’ll start scanning for “evidence” to back that up: maybe they took a little longer to reply or used a period instead of an emoji. Meanwhile, I completely overlook any neutral or kind interactions that would prove otherwise. I’ve had to learn to pause and ask myself: is this actual proof, or am I just feeding my anxiety with a narrative I already believe?

2. Spotlight Effect: The Bias That Makes Me Feel Too Perceived 

Then there’s the spotlight effect, which is our tendency to think people are noticing us way more than they actually are. I catch myself falling for this when I’m hyper-aware of something small, like a coffee stain on my shirt or the way I tripped walking into class, and immediately feel like everyone must have seen it and is silently judging me. But the truth is, most people are focused on their own lives. I know that logically, and yet my brain still occasionally puts me under a spotlight I don’t actually have. Learning about this bias hasn’t made it disappear, but it helps me catch the moment and move on a little faster.

3. Sunk Cost Fallacy: When I Stay Just Because I Already Committed 

Another one I still run into is the sunk cost fallacy, which is the idea that if we’ve already put time, effort, or money into something, we should keep doing it, even when it’s clearly not worth it anymore. I’ve stayed in clubs that didn’t fulfill me, watched shows I didn’t enjoy, and even held onto plans I didn’t want to follow through on, just because I’d already committed. That “I already came this far” mindset feels like you’re being responsible in the moment, but really, it’s just keeping you stuck! I’ve had to remind myself that cutting my losses is sometimes the healthiest, most rational thing I can do!

4. Fundamental Attribution Error – Misreading People and Having Double Standards

And finally, the fundamental attribution error, which is when we explain other people’s behavior based on their personality or character, but explain our own based on the situation we’re in. So if someone cuts me off in traffic, I might think they’re inconsiderate or a bad person. But if I do it? I was running late or having a bad morning. It’s a subtle bias, but it creates a double standard that I try to be more mindful of. Realizing that everyone has context and stressors I can’t see has helped me be a little more generous with others, and myself!

Final Thoughts

What these moments have taught me is this: self-awareness isn’t a fix-all. Knowing about cognitive biases doesn’t stop them, but it does give me the tools to pause before reacting. If you're a psych student (or just human), you’re probably dealing with the same things. I’d love to know: Which of these biases show up in your day-to-day? And how do you work through them?

Thanks for reading loves and I’ll see you back in two weeks for another post! <3
Love your favorite undergrad,

Apama <3