Debiasing Bias

A meta‑cognitive bias where one believes they have successfully eliminated their own biases, often leading to increased confidence in their judgments while remaining just as biased as before. The act of learning about cognitive biases creates an illusion of immunity: people assume that because they can name a bias, they are no longer subject to it. This bias is especially common among skeptics, rationalists, and self‑proclaimed critical thinkers who mistake awareness for transcendence. Debiasing bias makes people less open to feedback because they believe they have already done the work of cleaning their own mental house.

Example: “He spent an hour reading about confirmation bias, then declared himself ‘debiased’—and proceeded to dismiss all opposing evidence with renewed certainty. Debiasing bias: learning about bias as a shield against self‑reflection.”

Debiasing Bias by Dumu The Void March 25, 2026