ABSTRACT
The human capacity for rationalization of own or observed behaviour can be a formidable barrier to rational judgement and decision-making. Examples of non-rational behaviour include commitment to lost causes, belief perseverance, and the underestimation of risk. Cognitive dissonance (the clash between conduct and principles) frequently leads to beliefs and judgements being adapted to conform with own conduct, which further distorts perception and judgement.1 Even when individuals realize own bias in a particular judgement (and are explicitly asked to watch out for this), they are frequently unable to sufficiently adjust for it. Compounding such deviations from rational decision-making is the tendency for individuals to readily recognize biases in others that they do not recognize in themselves.
