1. The Halo Effect COGNITIVE BIAS Dr. Nadia Szkrumelak, M.D., F.R.C.P
Putting into question how we form our
opinions about other individuals
Dr. Nadia Szkrumelak, M.D., F.R.C.P
COGNITIVE BIAS

2. A cognitive bias is a pattern of deviation in judgment whereby inferences about other people and situations may be drawn in an illogical fashion. Individuals create their own subjective social reality from their perception of the input.
Haselton, M. G., Nettle, D., & Andrews, P. W. (2005). The evolution of cognitive bias. In The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology.

3. Cognitive biases may lead
to: perceptual distortion, inaccurate judgment & illogical interpretations.
- Haselton, M. G., Nettle, D., & Andrews, P. W. (2005).

4. Some of the more well-known cognitive biases include: the confirmation bias, the hindsight bias, the self-serving bias, the negativity bias, and…
- Haselton, M. G., Nettle, D., & Andrews, P. W. (2005).

5. the halo effect.

6. People tend to view others in generalized terms, either all good or all bad.

7. We allow positive or negative traits
of one personality area to spill over
to other areas, creating a cognitive bias
now known as the halo effect.

8. Edward Thorndike first coined the term “the halo effect” in 1920.

9. Thorndike found that if one of the soldiers’ qualities was rated highly, the other qualities tended to also be rated highly, and vice versa.

10. a halo error.

11. Richard E. Nisbett & Timothy DeCamp Wilson
were determined to know more about about the halo effect.

12. Here’s what they found…

13. Research addressing the presence and impact of the halo effect has largely focused upon physical appearance.
- Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts. ‪Applied Social Psychology‬: ‪Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problem, 2005, p. 357.

14. The physical attraction stereotype describes that attractiveness of an individual can distort others’ perception of that individual’s character qualities.
- Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts, 2005, p. 357.

15. Higher attractive individuals tend to be perceived as having more positive qualities, while less attractive people tend to be perceived as having more negative qualities, no matter what qualities are actually present
- Rohner & Rasmussen. Recognition bias and the physical attractiveness stereotype. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 53(3), 2012, p. 239.

16. = “What is beautiful is good.” Intelligent Happy Successful Capable
Reliable =
- Dion, Karen, Ellen Berscheid, and Elaine Walster "What is Beautiful is Good." Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 24 (3):

17. The Halo Effect in Politics

18. The bulk of the research using attractiveness focuses on the success of political elites, rather than the political implications of attractiveness for everyday interactions.

19. C. Paler and R. Peterson consider the role that halo effects play in our political lives, with particular attention to how halo errors may normatively alter our understanding of political interactions.
- C. Palmer and R. Peterson. Beauty and the Pollster: The Impact of Halo Effects on Perceptions of Political Knowledge and Sophistication.

20. Attractive politicians are subjectively viewed as more knowledgeable even after objectively accounting for their levels of factual knowledge.

21. The Halo Effect in Court
Subjects were more lenient when sentencing attractive individuals than unattractive ones, even though exactly the same crime was committed.
M. G. Efran. "The Effect of Physical Appearance on the Judgment of Guilt, Interpersonal Attraction, and Severity
of Recommended Punishment in Simulated Jury Task", Journal of Research in Personality 8: 45–

23. The Halo Effect in Education
Well-behaved students are
bright, diligent & engaged
before the teacher has objectively evaluated the student's capacity.
- Rasmussen. Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology, Volume 1, 2008)

24. The halo effect can influence how teachers treat students, but it can also impact how students perceive teachers.

25. The Halo Effect in Management
The halo effect is one of the most common bias in performance appraisal.
- Schneider, F.W., Gruman, J. A., & Coutts, L. M., Applied Social Psychology, 2012

26. “If the employee's work shows enthusiasm, the supervisor may give him or her a higher performance rating than is justified by knowledge or ability.”
- Schneider, F.W., Gruman, J. A., & Coutts, L. M., Applied Social Psychology, 2012

27. Reverse Halo Effect
Also known as the Horns Effect

28. Some leaders can become so demonized that
it's impossible to assess in a balanced way.

29. The Impact of Mood
When someone is in a favorable mood, the halo effect is more likely to be influential.
- Joseph P Forgas. "She just doesn't look like a philosopher…? Affective influences on the halo effect in impression formation". European Journal of Social Psychology 41 (7):

30. …and vise versa

31. It is beyond the scope of conscious behavior!

32. Questions & Answers…

33. The Halo Effect COGNITIVE BIAS Dr. Nadia Szkrumelak, M.D., F.R.C.P
Putting into question how we form our
opinions about other individuals
Dr. Nadia Szkrumelak, M.D., F.R.C.P
COGNITIVE BIAS