Framingsfouten

Framingsfouten, or framing errors, are a type of cognitive bias that occurs when the way information is presented influences how it is perceived and understood. This bias affects decision-making by highlighting certain aspects of a situation while downplaying others, leading individuals to make choices that might differ if the information were presented in a different way.

The concept of framing was popularized by psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky. They demonstrated through various experiments how different wordings, even when conveying statistically equivalent information, could lead to significantly different outcomes in choices. For example, a medical treatment described as having a "90% survival rate" is perceived more favorably than one with a "10% mortality rate," even though both statements convey the same probability.

Framingsfouten can manifest in various contexts, including marketing, politics, and personal decision-making. Advertisers might frame a product's benefits in a way that emphasizes its positive attributes, while political campaigns often frame issues to evoke specific emotional responses or create a particular narrative. In personal life, individuals may frame a past event as a learning experience (positive framing) or a failure (negative framing), influencing their current outlook and future actions.

Recognizing framingsfouten is crucial for critical thinking. By understanding how information can be framed, individuals can become more aware of potential biases and strive to evaluate situations based on objective data rather than the presentation of that data. This awareness allows for more rational and less emotionally swayed decision-making.