• Troy@lemmy.ca
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    4 months ago

    What is the name of the cognitive bias where, upon seeing a headline like this, you get an ego related endorphin rush that tells your brain “see, this is proof that I’m better than…”

    It’s like when people post studies about book readers being smarter in forums about books.

    Anyway, I’m still awake.

    • Clent@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Confirmation bias.

      After a quick skim of this study I don’t feel it proof of anything. It looks more like p-hacking.

      The data was pulled from a database so it’s entirely statically analysis. There’s no control. It’s all self reported.

      It’s quite odd that being a former smoker caused one to perform better than a current smoker or a never smoker. Of course they leave that out of the abstract.

      • TheSambassador@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        It’s similar to confirmation bias, but I think that’s the wrong name for the phenomenon. Confirmation bias is when we don’t question things that align with our world view and reject things that don’t align with it. It’s certainly related to a desire for a sense of superiority, but there is something about that specific rush of neurotransmitters.