The bias that makes you think you're a loser but you aren't - Survivorship bias

The video explains survivorship bias, a cognitive bias where people focus on successful outcomes and ignore failures. It uses examples from World War II, where reinforcing undamaged parts of returning planes was more effective, and Brody helmets, which seemed to increase injuries but actually saved lives. The bias is also present in university admissions and statistics, where only successful cases are considered. The video highlights how this bias affects perceptions of success stories and social media, urging viewers to recognize its impact on their self-assessment and mental well-being.

What is the main lesson from the World War II plane example regarding survivorship bias?

• Armor the entire plane to ensure safety.

• Reinforce the most damaged parts of returning planes.

• Focus on planes that did not return to understand vulnerabilities.

• Ignore the damage on returning planes.

How did survivorship bias affect the perception of Brody helmets during the war?

• They were seen as unnecessary.

• They were believed to save lives.

• They were considered ineffective.

• They were thought to cause more injuries.

Why is it difficult to assess the effectiveness of university admission tests?

• They are too expensive to conduct.

• They only consider students who were admitted.

• They are biased towards certain subjects.

• They are not standardized across universities.

What is a common misconception about stories of success?

• They always involve hard work.

• They are easy to replicate.

• They often ignore the many failures that preceded them.

• They are usually exaggerated.

How does survivorship bias affect our view of success on social media?

• It focuses on everyday challenges.

• It presents an unrealistic view of success.

• It highlights only the failures.

• It shows a balanced view of life.

What should you keep in mind when comparing yourself to others on social media?

• Social media accurately reflects personal struggles.

• Social media is a complete representation of life.

• Everyone's life is as perfect as it seems online.

• People only post the positive aspects of their lives.

What is a key takeaway from understanding survivorship bias?

• Failure stories are more common than success stories.

• Success stories are always reliable.

• Survivorship bias can distort our understanding of reality.

• Statistics are always accurate.