Decision-Making Bias Test: How Biased Is Your Brain?

This test shows how six common thinking traps may affect your choices: confirmation bias, sunk cost fallacy, loss and risk aversion, status quo bias, overconfidence, and anchoring.

You’ll read short everyday situations and pick what you would most likely do. Your answers will show how strongly each of these six biases shows up for you, in percentages. In the end, you’ll see which ones are your strongest patterns, so you can better understand how you usually make decisions.

When you research a health topic that worries you and see one article that supports your fears and another that says it’s probably nothing, what do you read first?

I open the one that confirms what I already suspect.
I open both, but I pay more attention to the one that fits how I already feel.
I start with the one that challenges my belief to see if I might be wrong.
A friend strongly disagrees with you about an important topic.

I avoid their sources and stick to mine; I already know I’m right.
I listen, but I mainly look for arguments to defend my view.
I’m curious and genuinely consider that I might be wrong.
You’re checking reviews for a product you already want to buy.

I mostly read positive reviews and ignore the negative ones.
I skim negative reviews but usually explain them away.
I pay close attention to negative reviews to test my initial excitement.
You’re curious about a controversial topic and search online.

I click on sources that match what I already think.
I mix both, but I quickly close pages that don’t agree with me.
I deliberately look for sources that challenge my current opinion.

You’re halfway through a book you paid for, but you find it boring and unhelpful.

I keep reading because I already spent money and time on it.
I try to finish it, but I might give up if it gets even worse.
I stop and move on to something more useful or enjoyable.
You’ve waited in a queue for 30 minutes when someone says another place nearby has no line.

I stay; I’ve already waited too long to leave now.
I hesitate, but I usually stay unless I’m really impatient.
I leave and go where I can be served faster.
You pay for a yearly subscription but rarely use it.

I keep it because I already paid for the year and might use it more later.
I consider canceling, but I “wait and see” for a long time.
I cancel or change it as soon as I see it’s not worth it.
A long-term project or partnership clearly isn’t working anymore.

I stay in it because I’ve already invested too much time and effort.
I delay ending it and hope it will somehow improve.
I face the facts and redirect my energy elsewhere.

You can choose between a guaranteed gain of $100 and a 50/50 chance to gain $250 or $0.

I always choose the sure $100.
I usually choose $100, but sometimes I gamble.
I compare the options and sometimes choose the risk if it makes sense.
Someone offers you a small investment with a realistic chance of losing a bit but a good chance of gaining more.

I avoid it; any chance of losing money feels too risky.
I feel nervous and often say no, unless others push me.
I weigh risks and returns and can accept small losses for bigger gains.
You’re thinking of changing to a cheaper, better-rated service provider.

I stay with the current one; I don’t want to risk things getting worse.
I hesitate for a long time and might switch only after many others do.
I compare and switch if the new option clearly looks better.
You own something (like a gadget or piece of furniture) you don’t use, and you could sell it at a small loss.

I keep it because selling for less than I paid feels too painful.
I go back and forth and usually end up delaying the decision.
I’d rather get some value now than hold on just to avoid a loss.

Your workplace introduces a new tool that can save time, but you’re used to the old one.

I stick to the old tool; changing feels too annoying.
I resist at first but may switch once everyone else does.
I try the new tool early to see if it actually helps.
You usually spend vacations in the same place every year.

I prefer going to the same place; it’s familiar and feels safer.
I think about going somewhere new but often return to the usual place.
I actively look for new locations, even if the old one is fine.
Your bank offers to move you to a plan that might be better but works differently.

I stay with my current plan; changing feels like too much trouble.
I delay the decision and might switch only if I’m really forced to.
I compare options and switch if the new plan looks clearly better.
Your daily routine clearly isn’t working well (sleep, health, productivity).

I keep doing the same things; change feels harder than staying stuck.
I want to change but keep postponing any real action.
I experiment with changes, even if it’s uncomfortable at first.

You have to make an important decision with limited information.

I rely mainly on my gut; it’s usually right.
I check some information but still trust my feeling a lot.
I assume my gut can be wrong and look for solid data.
A test, project, or plan doesn’t go well.

✦ Printable Assessments and Worksheets
For Classrooms, Teams, and Workshops
Download once — use with unlimited participants
Shop now »

I mostly blame external factors; my decisions were fine.
I see some mistakes but still think I was largely right.
I look closely at what I misjudged and adjust next time.
How do you rate your overall life skills (cooking, cleaning, driving, etc.) compared to the people you know?

I’m clearly better than most people I know.
I think I’m a bit above average, but I know I’m not perfect.
I assume I’m imperfect and can easily overestimate myself.
You make a prediction (about a person, a job, a decision).

I rarely check if I was wrong; I assume my judgment was accurate.
I sometimes check, but I don’t track my mistakes carefully.
I like to see if I was wrong so I can improve my judgment.

You see a winter coat first for $400, then a similar one for $200.

$200 feels cheap mainly because $400 is now my reference.
$200 feels like a good deal, but I also think about my budget a bit.
I evaluate each coat separately based on quality and what I can afford.
You’re negotiating a salary or price, and the other person gives the first number.

I stay close to their number; it strongly shapes what feels reasonable.
I move away from it a bit, but it still influences me.
I base my counteroffer on my own research, not their first number.
A listing shows “Was $500, now $380.”

The old price makes $380 feel like a big bargain.
I’m impressed, but I also try to think if $380 is really reasonable.
I ignore the “was” price and focus on whether $380 is worth it.
You form a strong first impression of someone at a meeting.

My first impression sticks; later information doesn’t change it much.
I adjust a bit, but my first impression still has a lot of power.
I’m open to changing my mind if new evidence doesn’t match my first impression.

Confirmation Bias: The Belief Defender

You like to feel sure about things. Once you’ve formed an opinion, you naturally start looking for proof that you were right all along. You’re drawn to information that agrees with you and tend to avoid or explain away things that don’t.

Strengths:

You’re loyal to your ideas and values.
You don’t get blown around by every new trend or opinion.
Once you commit to something, you stick with it.

Watch out for:

You may miss important warning signs or new information.
You can become overconfident in decisions based on one-sided evidence.
Disagreements can feel like personal attacks instead of chances to learn.

To balance it:

Ask yourself: “What evidence would make me change my mind?”
When you research, deliberately look for the opposite view.
Talk to at least one person who disagrees with you and just listen.

Confirmation Bias Test
How to Avoid Confirmation Bias

Sunk Cost Fallacy: The Loyal Investor

You find it hard to walk away from something you’ve invested in. If you’ve put in time, money, effort, or emotion, quitting feels like failure, even when it clearly isn’t working anymore.

Strengths:

You’re persistent and don’t give up at the first obstacle.
You’re dependable and loyal to people, projects, and plans.
You can push through boredom and discomfort when it really matters.

Watch out for:

You may stay too long in bad jobs, relationships, or projects.
You can waste time and energy trying to “save” something that isn’t fixable.
You might feel guilty even for healthy decisions like quitting or changing direction.

To balance it:

Ask: “If I had not started this yet, would I choose it today?”
Separate past cost (already gone) from future cost (still under your control).
Tell yourself: “That investment taught me something. Now I move on.”

Loss & Risk Aversion: The Safety-First Thinker

You hate the idea of losing more than you enjoy the idea of winning. Even when the potential benefit is good, any chance of loss makes you nervous. You often prefer safe, predictable options over risky ones.

Strengths:

You avoid impulsive and reckless decisions.
You’re good at protecting yourself and others from obvious downsides.
People can rely on you to think about safety and stability.

Watch out for:

You may say “no” to opportunities that could really improve your life.
You can overestimate small risks and underestimate potential gains.
You may stay stuck in situations that are “okay” but not satisfying.

To balance it:

Ask both: “What could go wrong?” and “What could go right?”
Practice small, controlled risks to build confidence.
Check the real numbers: probability, size of loss, and how you would recover.

Status Quo Bias: The Comfort-Zone Keeper

You’re naturally drawn to what you know. Familiar routines, places, and tools feel safe. Even when there might be a better option, change feels like effort and uncertainty, so you tend to delay it.

Strengths:

You provide stability and continuity in your environment.
You don’t chase constant change just because it’s fashionable.
You can build reliable routines that others can depend on.

Watch out for:

You may stay too long in routines or relationships that no longer work.
Better options may pass by simply because they require a switch.
You can confuse “familiar” with “safe” or “good.”

To balance it:

Experiment with small changes instead of huge overhauls.
Ask: “If I were starting from scratch, would I choose this setup?”
Set review dates: if something isn’t working by then, test an alternative.

Test: Are You Ready to Venture Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Overconfidence: The Confident Decider

You trust your judgment. You often feel you can read people and situations quickly and you believe you’re right more often than most. Because of this, you may not always check data or feedback as much as you could.

Strengths:

You make decisions quickly and avoid getting stuck in doubt.
You can inspire others with your certainty and direction.
You’re willing to take responsibility and move things forward.

Watch out for:

You may overlook important details or expert advice.
You can underestimate how often anyone, including you, can be wrong.
People around you might feel unheard if you always “know better.”

To balance it:

Treat each decision as a test, not a final verdict.
Ask at least one person: “What am I missing here?”
Notice how often reality actually matches your predictions.

Anchoring: The First-Impression Thinker

The first number, story, or impression sticks with you. After that, everything else is judged in relation to that starting point. The first price makes later prices look cheap or expensive. The first opinion about someone colors how you see them.

Strengths:

You form quick working models of situations.
You can make fast decisions when there isn’t much time.
You notice changes by comparing them to your first reference point.

Watch out for:

You may accept bad deals because they look better than the first number you saw.
First impressions of people can stick even when they’re misleading.
Sales tricks like “was $500, now $380” can work especially well on you.

To balance it:

Ask: “If I didn’t know the first number or story, what would I think?”
Look up independent references: market prices, reviews, and alternative opinions.
Give people and options a second look later, as if you’re meeting them again.

Popular self-hypnosis downloads (sponsored):

Confirmation Bias: The Belief Defender

Sunk Cost Fallacy: The Loyal Investor

Loss & Risk Aversion: The Safety-First Thinker

Status Quo Bias: The Comfort-Zone Keeper

Overconfidence: The Confident Decider

Anchoring: The First-Impression Thinker

You May Also Like: