Definition: overconfidence bias (case of overconfidence)

‍The Overconfidence bias describes the tendency to overestimate one's own judgment, decision-making capacity, or professional competence. People with this bias often rely too much on their gut feeling and experience — even if objective data suggests a different assessment.

Examples of overconfidence bias

Do you know that?‍

You're not applying because you don't fulfill 100% of the skills from the job ad? Then you're probably a woman. Studies show that on average, men apply if they only meet 60% of the requirements — women, however, often only when they completely agree. However, it is not only applicants who overestimate or underestimate themselves, but also HR managers.

What is the reason for that?

This is due to hubris

The overconfidence bias refers to the Tendency to overestimate one's own judgmentn.

In personnel selection, this cognitive distortion means that HR managers, for example, impressed by their experience are that they think they can only make the right selection decision based on a few, sometimes irrelevant criteria. They rely on their instincts, the famous gut feeling.

What else is a bias? We explain:

A bias generally describes a systematic distortion in human perception, thinking, or behavior. It is a type of “mental abbreviation” or Bias that subconsciously influences our judgment and decision making.

These distortions can result from personal experiences, cultural influences, emotional states or evolutionary thought patterns. While they often help us make quick decisions, they can also lead to miscalculations and irrational decisions.

Other examples of biases in the HR process include:

• Confirmation Bias: The Confirmation Bias
  We prefer information that supports our existing point of view and ignore conflicting information.
• Primacy Effect: The First Impression Mistake
  The first impression has a disproportionate influence on the overall assessment and is difficult to change.
• Halo & Horns Effect: Distortion due to individual features
  A single positive (halo) or negative (horn) aspect outshines a person's entire perception.
• Affinity Bias (Mini-Me Effect): The Similarity Flaw
  People who are similar to us are automatically rated more positively.
• Status quo bias: favoring the existing
  Existing conditions are preferred over changes, even if they would be beneficial.
• Stereotypes/Gender/Racial Bias
  Unconscious prejudices against marginalized groups influence decisions.‍
• Conformity Bias: The Adjustment Mistake
  Adapting one's own decisions to group opinions due to fear of negative evaluation.‍
• Illusory Correlation: The Perception of False Connections
  False assumption of relationships between independent properties.‍
• Contrast Bias: The Contrast Effect
  Evaluation of a person in direct comparison with previous or successor rather than according to objective criteria.

Identifying our own biases is the first step towards becoming more aware and more objective decisions within personnel selection to be able to meet.