Did you know you experience cognitive bias daily? For example, what’s your favorite color? Let’s pretend it’s purple. Without even hesitating, you tell me as much. It’s been purple for as long as you can remember (even if you don’t recall exactly why).
That’s an example of cognitive bias, a pattern of thinking that occurs when your brain takes a shortcut based on a past experience, belief, or feeling. Because purple felt familiar to you, you chose that color—even if you’ve recently found yourself enamored with teal or navy.
Aside from helping us come up with quick and easy conclusions about our favorite color, how else does cognitive bias affect our lives? Let’s immerse ourselves in the realm of cognitive bias, from what it is to how it impacts us and how we can make a conscious effort to reduce it in our daily lives.
Cognitive bias refers to the systematic errors in thinking that occur when the brain processes vast amounts of information. The human brain is a powerful anomaly. It can process 11 million bits of information every second. Our conscious minds, however, can only keep up with 40 to 50 pieces of information each second. Though significantly less than 11 million, that’s still an impressive amount of information to juggle at any given moment.
To help us keep up with all the bits and pieces, our brains occasionally take cognitive shortcuts to simplify information processing. The result? Cognitive biases, which serve as a quick way for your mind to make judgments based on your past experiences. So, instead of contemplating what your favorite color may be based on how you’ve decorated your home recently or the color you can’t seem to get enough of in your wardrobe, you go with the easy answer—the cognitive bias.
Cognitive bias refers to the systematic errors in thinking that occur when the brain processes vast amounts of information. Since your brain is consciously computing 40 to 50 items per second, it’s challenging to contemplate every single option 100% of the time, even when asked the simplest of questions. Even with an endless supply of information available to you at the swipe of a finger, sometimes it’s easier to take advantage of mental shortcuts.
Some of the most common causes of cognitive bias include:
Cognitive bias affects more than just our go-to responses for our favorite color. Below, we highlight some of the typical effects that cognitive biases can have on our lives:
While not all cognitive biases have negative consequences, it’s helpful to be aware of any biases you have so you can overcome them with these tips:
Curious how cognitive bias shows up in everyday life or how to keep it in check? Let’s recap the core concepts.
Your interest in the human mind and behavior doesn’t have to end with cognitive bias. With a BA in psychology, you can take your fascination (and career) to the next level. With UTPB’s online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, you’ll gain a broad foundation of psychological science knowledge and written communication and research skills that can jump-start your career in a variety of industries.
Our program is ranked among the Most Affordable Online Psychology Degree by STEPS and as one of the Top Online Bachelor of Psychology Degree Programs by TopCounselingSchools.org. If you’re ready to start your next chapter, apply today!
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2020/07/14/891140598/understanding-unconscious-bias
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/cognitive-bias/
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When people think of history class, they might picture dusty textbooks, memorized dates, or a recurring nightmare of a multiple-choice question about the date of the Great Molasses Flood. (1919, for what it’s worth.)
But here’s what that reputation misses: History is one of the most practical subjects you can study. The skills it builds—critical thinking, research, writing, argumentation—are exactly what some employers say they can’t find enough of. And at the graduate level, a history degree can invite opportunities that might surprise you.
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Historians and historically trained thinkers have shaped public policy, legal arguments, journalism, education, and leadership at every level. The ability to look at a complex situation, trace how it developed, and form a clear perspective is rare and valuable. It’s also exactly what a history education teaches you.
History degrees have launched some pretty varied careers (and we’re not afraid to name names):
Graduate-level history study goes much deeper than the survey courses most people remember from undergrad. Instead of covering centuries in a semester, you’ll spend careful, considered time on historic moments and topics of consequence.
One week you’ll be reading primary sources and wrestling with competing interpretations. The next, you’ll build your own arguments from the evidence. It’s less “here’s what happened” and more “here’s why it matters—and what we still don’t fully understand.”
At UTPB, the online MA in history covers topics including:
That kind of focused, rigorous study builds skills that transfer directly to a wide range of careers. And that’s the question most prospective students want answered—what can you do with a history degree?
History degree jobs span a wider range than most people expect. Sure, a classic role as a history professor probably springs to mind first, but a master’s in history can take graduates down many different paths.
That’s because the degree signals a key message to employers: This person can read carefully, write clearly, think critically, and make a coherent argument. Those abilities show up again and again on the lists of skills employers are struggling to find.
Some common career paths for history graduates include:
A master’s degree also carries a real earnings advantage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers with master’s degrees had median weekly earnings of $1,840 in 2024, compared to $1,543 for bachelor’s degree holders. That’s a gap of about $300 a week, adding up to roughly $15,000 more per year.
If the careers, skills, and famous alumni above haven’t sold you yet, here’s the practical part: UTPB makes it genuinely easy to earn your graduate degree in history. The program is fully online and asynchronous, which means you complete coursework on your own schedule. No commuting, no rigid class times, and no choosing between your degree and your job.
A few things worth knowing about our online MA in history:
If you’ve already completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, you may be closer to earning your master’s than you think. Explore UTPB’s online MA in history to learn more about the program and how to apply.
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If you want to earn a degree faster without putting your life on pause, an accelerated online degree program may be worth a closer look.
An accelerated degree program is designed to help students complete coursework in a shorter time frame than a traditional program. Instead of longer semesters, you’ll move through condensed sessions that cover the same material in less time. At The University of Texas Permian Basin, you can complete some programs in as little as eight months, depending on the program and course load.
So, what does that actually look like for students?
Traditional college semesters often run about 15 weeks. Accelerated programs break that schedule into shorter sessions, which allows students to finish courses more quickly and keep moving toward graduation.
At UTPB, many fall, spring, and summer sessions include shorter course terms, with some lasting just eight weeks. That means students can make steady progress throughout the year while learning on a schedule that works for them.
For motivated students, that flexibility can make a major difference.
An accelerated online degree program is a real college experience that’s built for efficiency and flexibility.
Online students learn from experienced faculty, complete coursework remotely and move through class materials in a way that fits around work, family, and other responsibilities. Because many online courses are asynchronous, students can log in when it works best for them instead of rearranging everything around a fixed class time.
Online students at UTPB have access to many of the same support services available to on-campus students. That includes academic advising, tutoring, and writing assistance.
Students can also connect with classmates and instructors through discussion boards, assignments, and group work. And even though you’re using an online setting, there are still opportunities to ask questions, collaborate, and build connections.
In other words, accelerated doesn’t mean unsupported.
Ask yourself: If I can receive the same guidance, education, and degree from an accelerated online program, why anchor myself to a college campus?
You asked and we answered. Here are some of the most common inquiries about our accelerated online degree programs:
UTPB offers accelerated online programs across a variety of fields, including business, education, arts and sciences, health sciences, and engineering.
If you’re looking for a way to earn your degree faster while still receiving academic support and a respected credential, an accelerated online program could be the right next step.
Explore UTPB’s online programs and find the one that fits your goals.
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