Think Better · 45 sec
Self-serving bias
A compact thinking tool for spotting patterns and avoiding mistakes.
The useful idea
- The useful idea
A self-serving bias is any cognitive or perceptual process that is distorted by the need to maintain and enhance self-esteem, or the tendency to perceive oneself in an overly favorable manner.
- How it works
It is the belief that individuals tend to ascribe success to their own abilities and efforts, but ascribe failure to external factors.
- Why it matters
When individuals reject the validity of negative feedback, focus on their strengths and achievements but overlook their faults and failures, or take more credit for their group's work than they give to
Why this matters
Use Self-serving bias as a quick check before trusting your first conclusion.
Try this
Use Self-serving bias as a quick check before trusting your first conclusion.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of Self-serving bias?
- How it works
- The useful idea — correct
- Why it matters
A self-serving bias is any cognitive or perceptual process that is distorted by the need to maintain and enhance self-esteem, or the tendency to perceive oneself in an overly favorable manner.