By Esther Cohen With the inspiration from CAMHS

Bias is an integral part of our thinking process whether we are aware of it or not. Our brains connect to what is familiar and we see life and possibilities through these lenses.  CAMHS professionals, a staffing provider for services working with children and adolescents’ mental health, defines cognitive bias as “a systematic error in thinking that occurs when people are processing and interpreting information”.

Being aware of our personal biases, which are informed by our upbringing, experiences, memories and coping mechanisms amongst other factors, helps us see beyond the cognitive stumbling blocks that might trip us up on the road to decision making.

Biases can also affect our perceptions of situations, somewhat distorting our understanding of them, also playing a hefty part in our emotional state.  This cannot be fully avoided as we are influenced by our contexts and guided by our unique combination of emotional, cognitive, behavioural and spiritual make-up. The best we can do is develop an awareness of how we function and the forces that are pulling our core selves in different directions.

 The bottom line, as CAMHS suggests, is:

·      Develop awareness of your biases – i.e. how are past experiences influencing current choices?

·      Challenge your biases – i.e. how would someone else view this situation

·      What are the internal factors influencing your decision?

Self-knowledge and holistic self-acceptance go a long way in allowing us to make the right decisions for ourselves and for those around us.