Distinction bias is the tendency to judge two options as more different from each other when they are evaluated side by side, in what is called joint evaluation, than when the same two options are each evaluated on their own, in single evaluation, so that small or ultimately unimportant differences appear larger and more decision-relevant than they would if only one option were being considered at a time. The behavioral scientists Christopher Hsee and Jiao Zhang of the University of Chicago described and named the bias in a 2004 study, arguing that people frequently make choices while comparing options jointly but then go on to experience the chosen option separately, which leads them to over-predict how much a difference between the options will actually affect their satisfaction once only one option is in front of them.
Facts
Core ClaimTwo options are judged as more different from each other when they are evaluated side by side than when each is evaluated on its own, so small or unimportant differences appear larger and more decision-relevant than they would if only one option were being considered at a time. 1 First Described Year Classification
Type of Phenomenon Connections
In Branch
Source Wikipedia: Distinction bias
Source Wikipedia: Distinction bias
Source Wikipedia: Distinction bias
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Distinction bias
Wikimedia Foundationlead paragraph
Distinction bias, a concept of decision theory, is the tendency to view two options as more distinctive when evaluating them simultaneously than when evaluating them separately.
Hsee and Zhang section
The concept of the distinction bias was advanced by Christopher K. Hsee and Jiao Zhang of the University of Chicago as an explanation for differences in evaluations of options between joint evaluation mode and separate evaluation mode (2004).
lead section, phenomenon-kind classification
Distinction bias, a concept of decision theory, is the tendency to view two options as more distinctive when evaluating them simultaneously than when evaluating them separately.
In Branch: Social Psychology, Categories
Wikipedia article 'Distinction bias' is filed under Category:Social psychology.
In Branch: Educational Psychology, Categories
Wikipedia article 'Distinction bias' is filed under Category:Educational psychology.
In Branch: Cognitive Psychology, Categories
Wikipedia article 'Distinction bias' is filed under Category:Cognitive biases.
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