Hindsight Bias
Hindsight bias: Hindsight bias is when you know something right after it happens and not
while it is happening. Some people call it the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon. This is where
you watch a sports game and when the game is over, think to yourself that you knew they would
loose, when in fact you were on the edge of your seat waiting to see how the game was going to
end and if your team would win or not. (Myers, 2010, p.16.)
I have had several instances where hindsight bias has happened to me. Some of the more
memorable and favorite moments of it have been with my dad and the girls I have dated. See
there was this one girl that I tried to date while I lived in Florida last year. Her name was Crystal
and she was very nice, and after a while I told my parents about her and my dad told me to be
careful like most parents do. After a few weeks of trying to get her to go on an actual date with
me as more than friends, her and I had a heart to heart about where we stood. To my dislike we
wouldn’t be more than friends, but I was ok with that because I didn’t want to loose her as a
friend. But it was when I told my dad about this that he told me he had a feeling that this wasn’t
going to work out, and that I shouldn’t have tried to pursue her in that way.
There is an even better example of this involving my dad and my last girlfriend that is a
better demonstration of hindsight bias. For 6 months before I decided to move back up to New
Hampshire to take some classes I got involved with this girl named Destiny. I was really excited
about her, we clicked on several levels. We had a good deal in common and we really enjoyed
each others company. I had even taken her home with me for the holidays to meet my parents. I
asked my family how they liked her and everyone said that they liked her and they were glad I
was so happy. I even took my dad aside and talked to him about her and about
while it is happening. Some people call it the I-knew-it-all-along phenomenon. This is where
you watch a sports game and when the game is over, think to yourself that you knew they would
loose, when in fact you were on the edge of your seat waiting to see how the game was going to
end and if your team would win or not. (Myers, 2010, p.16.)
I have had several instances where hindsight bias has happened to me. Some of the more
memorable and favorite moments of it have been with my dad and the girls I have dated. See
there was this one girl that I tried to date while I lived in Florida last year. Her name was Crystal
and she was very nice, and after a while I told my parents about her and my dad told me to be
careful like most parents do. After a few weeks of trying to get her to go on an actual date with
me as more than friends, her and I had a heart to heart about where we stood. To my dislike we
wouldn’t be more than friends, but I was ok with that because I didn’t want to loose her as a
friend. But it was when I told my dad about this that he told me he had a feeling that this wasn’t
going to work out, and that I shouldn’t have tried to pursue her in that way.
There is an even better example of this involving my dad and my last girlfriend that is a
better demonstration of hindsight bias. For 6 months before I decided to move back up to New
Hampshire to take some classes I got involved with this girl named Destiny. I was really excited
about her, we clicked on several levels. We had a good deal in common and we really enjoyed
each others company. I had even taken her home with me for the holidays to meet my parents. I
asked my family how they liked her and everyone said that they liked her and they were glad I
was so happy. I even took my dad aside and talked to him about her and about
References: Myers, D. G. (2010). Psychology (9th ed. ). New York: Worth.