bias blind spot

the tendency of people to see themselves as less susceptible to nonconscious predispositions and cognitive influences than others. For example, people often consider their own political views to be objective and purely fact based, whereas they believe those who hold opposing political views are influenced by prejudice and party opinion. This bias stems from the fact that a person generally relies on introspection when assessing his or her own biases but relies on overt behavior when assessing bias in others. See also objectivity illusion. [introduced in 2002 by U.S. psychologists Emily Pronin, Daniel Y. Lin, and Lee Ross]

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Psychology term of the day

February 20th 2025

principle of constancy

in classical psychoanalytic theory, the idea that all mental processes tend toward a state of equilibrium and the stability of the inorganic state. Also called constancy law; law of constancy. See also death instinct; nirvana principle.