{"id":54200,"date":"2021-11-17T14:51:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T18:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=54200"},"modified":"2021-11-17T15:57:48","modified_gmt":"2021-11-17T19:57:48","slug":"liking-bias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/liking-bias\/","title":{"rendered":"Liking Bias: Why We Ignore Faults in People We Love"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the liking bias<\/a>? How do you correct this tendency?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The liking bias is the inclination to be emotionally attached to objects of affection (including humans and things) to the point where real faults and problems are ignored. You can correct this bias by inverting your opinion of your object of affection to see all the ways that person is unlikable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn more about the liking bias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What It Is<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Humans tend to like and love things and people. In particular, they have an affinity for their mothers, much like goslings attach to whatever is there at birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you have an object of affection, you tend to ignore their faults and comply with their wishes. You like people, products, and actions that are associated with your object of affection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This also works in reverse\u2014a quality you admire in someone intensifies<\/em> the feeling of liking and loving that person. This can build extreme feedback loops\u2014you might naturally like someone, then you like their character traits, which in turn intensifies your admiration for that person and ignorance of their faults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In return, people like being<\/em> liked and loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why It Evolved<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a child, being emotionally attached to your parents promotes your learning and safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More broadly, the liking bias evolved because people who like each other tend to stick together, thus promoting social cohesion<\/a> and cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How It Can Be Harmful<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you like someone or something enough, you can ignore its real faults and problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In extreme cases, your affection for something can be so strong that you harm yourself to attain what you love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The liking bias can make you pursue paths that make other people admire you, rather than the optimal choice for yourself. This includes making popular but wrong decisions<\/a> as a manager, or pursuing a respectable career path<\/a> that you dislike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of the Liking Bias<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n