Anchoring is a cognitive bias that involves relying too heavily on the first piece of information offered (the anchor) when making decisions. This can lead to suboptimal choices, as other information may be discounted or ignored altogether.

For example, if you are considering buying a car and the first price you see is $20,000, you are likely to anchor on that number and view all subsequent prices in relation to it. This can lead you to either overestimate or underestimate the true value of the car.

The anchoring effect was first identified by psychologists Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman in 1974. They found that people tend to make judgments based on irrelevant, anchoring cues.

In one study, they asked participants to guess the percentage of African countries that are members of the United Nations. The participants who were asked this question after seeing the number 10 guessed, on average, 25% lower than those who saw the number 65.

The anchoring effect is a powerful tool that marketers use to influence our spending habits. For example, car dealerships will often list a high starting price for a car in order to anchor our perceptions of value. They know that we are likely to view all subsequent prices in relation to that initial, Anchored price.

How to deal with the anchoring bias

There are a few ways to avoid falling prey to the anchoring effect:

1) Be aware of it: The first step is to simply be aware that anchoring exists and that it can influence your decisions.

2) Shop around: When making a major purchase, it’s important to shop around and get multiple quotes. This will help to ensure that you are not unduly influenced by any one anchoring cue.

3) Consider all relevant information: When making a decision, be sure to consider all of the relevant information, not just the first piece that you come across.

4) Take your time: Rushing into a decision is more likely to lead to poor choices. If possible, take your time and allow yourself to fully process all of the information before making a final choice.

Anchoring is a cognitive bias that can lead to suboptimal decision-making. By being aware of it, shopping around, considering all relevant information, and taking your time, you can avoid its pitfalls.