Salience bias is a cognitive bias that causes individuals to focus on items, information, or stimuli that are more prominent or emotionally striking, rather than those that are less distinct or noticeable. This bias can lead to disproportionate attention being given to stimuli that stand out, despite their relevance, causing skewed perceptions and decision-making.
An example of salience bias in action is during a presentation where a speaker highlights a key point using bold colors and large font. The audience is more likely to remember this vivid point over other important information that was presented in plain text, illustrating how visually salient stimuli can dominate attention.
To overcome salience bias, actively seek out diverse information sources and practice mindfulness to recognize and evaluate less prominent but important details. Being aware of this bias can help in making more balanced decisions.