Decoy Effect
A third, inferior option makes a target option look more attractive by comparison, shifting your preference.
The decoy effect occurs when adding an unattractive third choice changes your preference between two original options. It happens because the decoy is designed to be clearly worse than one option but comparable to the other, making the superior option seem like a better deal. For example, if choosing between a small popcorn for $3 and a large for $7, adding a medium for $6.50 makes the large seem like a great value.
Recognising a definition is not the same skill as spotting it.
Two scenarios from the app, with distractors drawn from the same family of biases — which is what makes them hard.
A home inspection service offers a basic assessment for three hundred dollars and a comprehensive inspection with tests for seven hundred, then adds a detailed report package for six seventy five, because the enhanced package barely cheaper than premium makes the complete service feel like the obvious choice even though a basic inspection identifies major property issues.
Lena was choosing a new phone. The top model had a great camera for $800, while the base model was $600. A mid-range model for $750 had a mediocre camera. Lena chose the top model, feeling the mid-range made the upgrade worth it.
Biases rarely arrive alone.
Understand more. Assume less.
188 biases, 18,869 scenarios, and a record of how you actually decide.
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