Choice-supportive bias
The tendency to remember our past choices as better than they were. We recall more good things about the option we picked and more bad things about the ones we turned down.
In everyday life
Years after choosing one college over another, a graduate remembers her school's strengths vividly and recalls mostly the drawbacks of the one she rejected.
Explaining why you chose your current car over another model, you describe the other one as cramped and noisy, though your notes from the test drives say it felt roomy and quiet.
Why your mind does this
Holding steady beliefs lets us act without rethinking everything each time. Favoring information that fits what we already know is fast, protects our sense of being right, and keeps our picture of the world stable and coherent.
Its family, in 30 seconds: Confirms beliefs
How to spot it
Ask yourself whether your memory of the options you rejected has become harsher over time.
How to counter it
Write down the pros and cons of each option when you decide, and reread them before judging how well the choice worked out.
Habits that catch it
- Write predictions down
A dated note beats memory, which tends to edit itself to match what happened.