How the Mere Exposure Effect Shapes Our Biased Brain

The Biased Brain Podcast with Owen Hawthorne

Explore the intriguing world of cognitive biases and human cognition in this engaging podcast. Discover how bias in decision making shapes our perceptions and influences our choices. Join us as we delve into the science behind critical thinking and biases, providing practical insights to enhance your understanding and control over your thought processes. Whether you're a psychology student or curious observer, this podcast offers valuable tools to help you unveil the hidden biases in your mind.

Hey there, welcome back to another episode of The Biased Brain Podcast! It's just me today, and I've got something fascinating to chat about: the Mere Exposure Effect. This psychological phenomenon is all about how simply being exposed to something repeatedly can make us like it more. Sounds simple, right? But when you dig a little deeper, it gets pretty interesting how it influences our everyday decisions and biases.

Let's start with a little story. Imagine you're at a new coffee shop, and you notice a peculiar painting on the wall. At first, you don’t think much of it. Maybe it’s not even your style. But you keep coming back to that coffee shop, and each time you see that painting, you start to like it more and more. That's the Mere Exposure Effect in action. Just by being around it repeatedly, your brain starts to find comfort and preference in it.

Now, you might be wondering, why does this happen? Well, our brains are wired to seek familiarity. It's a survival mechanism. Things we see often are perceived as safe, making us more inclined to like them. This cognitive bias can sneak its way into many aspects of our lives, from the music we enjoy to the products we choose, and even the people we prefer to spend time with.

For example, have you ever noticed how radio stations play the same songs over and over again? It's not just because those songs are popular. Repeated exposure makes us like them more, even if we didn’t particularly enjoy them the first time around. Marketers have long capitalized on this effect, knowing that the more we see a brand or product, the more likely we are to develop a preference for it.

The Mere Exposure Effect also taps into our social lives. Think about how we develop friendships. Often, it's the people we see regularly, like colleagues or classmates, who become our friends. This isn't just because we share a space; it's because our brains start to associate them with positive feelings the more we interact with them.

But here's the kicker—this effect can also lead to some biases in decision making. Just because we're familiar with something doesn't necessarily mean it's the best choice. That's where critical thinking and biases come into play. We need to be aware of when our preferences are being subtly influenced by mere exposure rather than objective evaluation.

So how can we use this understanding of human cognition to our advantage? First, be mindful of your surroundings and the things you're repeatedly exposed to. Ask yourself if your preferences are formed based on genuine liking or just familiarity. Second, try to expose yourself to a variety of new experiences and ideas to broaden your perspective. This can help counteract the biases that might be forming without you even realizing it.

For those of you who are really interested in diving deeper into cognitive biases, I highly recommend checking out the book, "The Biased Brain" by Bo Bennett, PhD. It's a fantastic resource for exploring the inner workings of our minds. Explore the book and unravel the secrets of your mind today!

That's all for today's episode. I hope you enjoyed our little journey into the world of the Mere Exposure Effect. As always, thanks for tuning in to The Biased Brain Podcast. Until next time, keep questioning, keep exploring, and keep being curious!

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