Narrative bias

Narrative bias, also known as narrative information bias, is a cognitive bias that skews perceptions towards information contained in individual narratives, as compared to complex data or other forms of information.

It refers both to the tendency to trust anecdotes over other forms of information,^[1][2][3] as well as a form of illusory correlation that connects unrelated variables into a cohesive narrative.^[4]

See also

• Illusory correlation
• List of cognitive biases

References

1. Betsch, Cornelia; Haase, Niels; Renkewitz, Frank; Schmid, Philipp (2015). "The narrative bias revisited: What drives the biasing influence of narrative information on risk perceptions?". Judgment and Decision Making. 10 (3): 241–264. doi:10.1017/S1930297500004654. ISSN 1930-2975.
2. Winterbottom, Anna; Bekker, Hilary L.; Conner, Mark; Mooney, Andrew (1 December 2008). "Does narrative information bias individual's decision making? A systematic review". Social Science & Medicine. 67 (12): 2079–2088. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.09.037. ISSN 0277-9536.
3. Haase, Niels; Schmid, Philipp; Betsch, Cornelia (3 March 2020). "Impact of disease risk on the narrative bias in vaccination risk perceptions". Psychology & Health. 35 (3): 346–365. doi:10.1080/08870446.2019.1630561. ISSN 0887-0446.
4. Williams, Robin (2006). "Compressed Foresight and Narrative Bias: Pitfalls in Assessing High Technology Futures". Science as Culture. 15 (4): 327–348. doi:10.1080/09505430601022668. ISSN 0950-5431.