Why do we fall for cognitive biases and how do they affect decisions?

We fall for cognitive biases because our brain takes shortcuts when making decisions, just like when you choose your favorite snack without thinking too much.

Imagine your brain is like a robot that helps you decide what to do every day. But sometimes it’s tired or in a hurry, so instead of checking everything carefully, it uses little tricks, these are cognitive biases.

Your brain likes to use the same answer over and over because it knows it works most of the time. For example, if you've had chocolate milk before and liked it, your brain might think that every chocolate milk is good, even when it's actually a little sour this time.

These tricks can make you choose things that aren’t the best option. Like when you pick the first toy at the store because you're excited, instead of looking around for something even cooler. Your brain thinks it’s smart, but sometimes it's just following a shortcut.

Next time you make a decision, remember: your brain is like a robot with a favorite trick, and that's why we fall for cognitive biases!