Moral, Political, and Workplace Biases
Severity bias
Rating too harshly.
What Is Severity bias?
Severity bias is a thinking trap where rating too harshly.
How It Tricks You
It can turn partial social evidence into a confident judgment about people, motives, or groups.
Real-World Example
A reviewer rates everyone harshly because they rarely feel impressed.
Seen Online As
- The fast interpretation is doing more work than the evidence.
- The claim feels obvious before the check question is asked.
- A shortcut is making the judgment feel more certain than it is.
What To Ask Instead
Am I holding an unrealistic standard?
Related Thinking Traps
Common Situations
Quick FAQ
What is Severity bias?
Rating too harshly.
What is an example of Severity bias?
A reviewer rates everyone harshly because they rarely feel impressed.
How do I spot Severity bias?
Am I holding an unrealistic standard?