Have you ever thought someone would make a great leader because of their appearance? Perhaps you’ve believed an attractive person had other positive qualities, like kindness and honesty, based off their picture alone? Do you trust a product because it’s endorsed by a celebrity that you like and admire? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you may be guilty of a cognitive bias called the Halo Effect.
In psychology the Halo Effect describes a form of stereotyping in which one positive aspect of a person influences how we feel about their other traits. Beautiful people are seen more positively than others. Villains in stories are ugly and cruel while the heroes and heroines are beautiful, kind and intelligent.
Our brains make these judgements in as little as a tenth of a second without us even realising. Dating apps, like Tinder, make very good use of the halo effect and our tendency to make fast judgements about attractiveness that go on to affect our overall impression of that person.
The halo effect was discovered in the 1920s by American psychologist Edward Thorndike. Not only can affect your judgement of others but it can also affect the way others see you. No one wants to be judged solely on their physical appearance or something trivial like a spelling mistake. Slowing down and checking your biases can be helpful for avoiding errors of judgement. As the saying goes, never judge a book by its cover.
WATCH NEXT:
○ Why We Make Mistakes and Poor Decisions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoJJszrhcHM
Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is intended for educational and entertainment purposes and not intended as advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Always consult with your own doctor before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.