Name the Bias
During a job review, a manager rates an attractive employee higher than a less attractive employee, even though their work quality is similar.
Beauty bias
Statement: "I met two teenagers who were rude, so all teenagers are rude."
Fallacy: Hasty Generalization
Scenario: "This product must be good because everyone is using it."
Answer: Fallacy – Bandwagon
Headline: "Asteroid Passes Earth: Local Man's Sacrifice to Sun God Credited with Saving Planet."
Primary Fallacy: False Cause
Fallacy: Slippery Slope
(Example: "If I get a B on this test, I won't get into a good college, I'll never get a good job, and I'll end up living in a box under the bridge!")
A 55-year-old employee is passed over for a promotion in favor of a younger colleague, with the manager citing "fresh perspectives" as the reason.
Age bias
Statement: "If we allow students to use calculators in math class, soon they won't learn basic arithmetic, and then they'll fail in life."
Fallacy: Slippery Slope
Scenario: Lisa thinks that her friend is always late because he is irresponsible, but when she is late, she blames traffic.
Answer: Bias – Attribution bias
Headline: "You Won't BELIEVE What This Celebrity Eats for Breakfast! Doctors Are Furious!"
Primary Fallacy: Appeal to Authority (and Appeal to Emotion)
Bias: Confirmation Bias
(Example: "Alex believes that left-handed people are more creative. When he meets a left-handed artist, he takes it as proof, but when he meets a left-handed accountant, he dismisses it as an exception.")
Tom believes that all politicians are bad. When he hears about a politician giving money to charity, he thinks, "They must be trying to hide something."
Confirmation bias
Statement: "You either support free speech completely, or you're a censorship advocate."
Fallacy: False Dilemma
Scenario: A hiring manager unconsciously prefers candidates who graduated from his university.
Answer: Bias – Attribution Bias
Headline: "New Study Finds People Who Read Books Are Smarter. Are You Stupid for Not Reading?"
Primary Fallacy: False Dilemma
Bias: Anchoring Bias
(Example: "The first car I saw was priced at $30,000. Now every other car I see for $25,000 seems like a fantastic deal, even if it's overpriced.")
When Maria spills her coffee, she blames it on being rushed, but when her colleague spills coffee, she thinks he is always careless.
Attribution bias
Statement: "My doctor says this diet pill works, so it must be effective."
Fallacy: Appeal to Authority
Scenario: "If we don't reduce carbon emissions immediately, the planet will be destroyed in 10 years!"
Answer: Fallacy – Slippery Slope
Headline: "Millions Are Ditching Their Banks for This New App. Don't Get Left Behind!"
Primary Fallacy: Bandwagon
Fallacy: False Dilemma (Either/Or)
(Example: "You're either part of the solution, or you're part of the problem.")
A company offers a you a salary of $50,000 based on your previous salary of $40,000, even though the role typically pays $65,000.
Anchoring bias
Statement: "The crime rate increased after the new mayor took office, so the mayor is responsible for the rise in crime."
Fallacy: False Cause
Scenario: After hearing one news story about a shark attack, John refuses to swim in the ocean, believing that all sharks are deadly.
Answer: Fallacy – Hasty Generalization
Headline: "Politician Spotted on Vacation During Crisis! This Proves They Don't Care About You!"
Primary Fallacy: Hasty Generalization
Fallacy: Straw Man
(Example: Person A: "We should consider reducing military spending." Person B: "So you want to leave our country defenseless and vulnerable to attack?")