Impact Bias
We tend to overestimate the intensity and duration of our emotional reactions to future events.
The Impact Bias is a cognitive bias where we consistently misjudge how strongly and for how long we'll feel about future occurrences, both positive and negative. Essentially, it's like thinking winning the lottery will make us eternally happy or that a breakup will leave us devastated forever. We tend to overestimate how intensely we'll feel and how long those feelings will last. Think of it like believing you'll be on cloud nine for years after getting a promotion, when in reality, you might adjust to your new normal within a few months!
Example
Job Promotion
You imagine getting a big promotion will make you ecstatically happy for years, but after a few months, you've adjusted to your new role and salary. Why? Humans have a remarkable ability to adapt to new circumstances, known as hedonic adaptation.
In your professional life
Highlight Specific Achievements in Introductions
When introducing team members or colleagues, focus on specific achievements or positive traits to counteract impact bias. For instance, as a project manager, highlighting a team member’s recent successful project helps ensure that their overall perception is not disproportionately influenced by a single, memorable accomplishment.
Go deeper in ThinkBetter
The ThinkBetter app has the full Impact Bias deep-dive: more examples, a quiz to test yourself, audio narration, and a weekly path that builds these ideas into a habit.
