We favor simple-looking options and complete information over complex, ambiguous options

Deep Dive

All Biases

Information Bias

We seek information even when it cannot affect our decision or action.

Ambiguity Bias

We avoid options where the probability of outcomes is unknown, preferring known probabilities even if less favorable.

Belief Revision

We inadequately update our beliefs when presented with new evidence, either over- or under-revising.

Rhyme as Reason Effect

We perceive statements that rhyme as more truthful and accurate than non-rhyming statements.

Law of Triviality (Bike-Shedding Effect)

We give disproportionate weight to trivial issues while neglecting more important but complex ones.

Delmore Effect

We are more likely to set goals in areas where we are already competent rather than where we need improvement.

Conjunction Fallacy

We judge the conjunction of two events as more probable than one of the events alone.

Occam's Razor

We prefer simpler explanations over more complex ones when both equally explain the data.

Less-is-Better Effect

We prefer a smaller, more complete option over a larger, less complete option when judged separately (but not together).

Hick’s Law

The time it takes to make a decision increases logarithmically with the number and complexity of choices (critical in UX design).