<p>Wikipedia has articles on both of these terms, so that would be one place to start. Although you may not be able to cite Wikipedia as a source, both of these articles have good References sections.</p>
<p>Here are the Wikipedia definitions (emphasis added):</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_bias" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cognitive bias</a>: &quot;a systematic pattern of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment.&quot;</li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_distortion" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Cognitive distortion</a>: &quot;an exaggerated or irrational thought pattern <strong>involved in the onset or perpetuation of psychopathological states</strong>, such as depression and anxiety.&quot;</li>
</ul>
<p>So both of these terms apply to thought patterns that deviate from a theoretical rational standard. But cognitive distortions apply specifically to states considered psychologically abnormal, while cognitive biases refer to properties of human thinking that tend to affect everyone. The examples given in the articles seem to support this distinction.</p>
<p>As you mentioned, cognitive distortions could be seen as a subset of cognitive biases, specifically the subset that leads to psychopathological conditions.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-20T09:40:10.740Z
I had an idea, maybe **biases** are about us ignoring a part of the total information or facts available and **distortions** are about us interpreting or processing the availlable facts in the wrong way.  ANY COMMENTS??
user14812745
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-20T20:57:23.500Z
@user14812745 I don't think that distinction is generally true. For example, *confirmation bias* is a type of cognitive bias in which people tend to promote information that confirms their preconceptions and discredit information that goes against their beliefs. So they acknowledge the available information, but they interpret information differently depending on whether it supports their argument.
RedGreenCode
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-21T12:43:05.793Z
Yup I understand your viewpoint , appreciate your effort trying to answer my question.
user14812745
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-20T00:46:16.863Z
2020-12-20T00:46:16.863Z
RedGreenCode
<p>I was asked by my professor to give a presentation on the topic <em><strong>&quot;Cognitive biases and distortions&quot;</strong></em> and during my prep I had this question. Could anyone please shed some light?</p>
<p>I tried finding more regarding the difference but I am yet to find &quot;cognitive biases <strong>vs</strong> distortions&quot; I have only found &quot;cognitive biases <strong>and</strong> distortions&quot;.
Going by definitions it seems to me that distortions might be a subset of biases but i'm not at all sure. The counter argument to this for me is maybe biases are more about <em><strong>what we see</strong></em> and distortions about <em><strong>how we interpret it</strong></em> .</p>
<p>Thanks</p>

<cognitive-psychology><cognitive-neuroscience><cognitive-modeling><bias><cognitive-distortion>
What is the difference between Cognitive Bias and Cognitive distortion?
user14812745
# What is the difference between Cognitive Bias and Cognitive distortion?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-19)

I was asked by my professor to give a presentation on the topic ***"Cognitive biases and distortions"*** and during my prep I had this question. Could anyone please shed some light?

I tried finding more regarding the difference but I am yet to find "cognitive biases **vs** distortions" I have only found "cognitive biases **and** distortions".
Going by definitions it seems to me that distortions might be a subset of biases but i'm not at all sure. The counter argument to this for me is maybe biases are more about ***what we see*** and distortions about ***how we interpret it*** .

Thanks

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, cognitive-neuroscience, cognitive-modeling, bias, cognitive-distortion


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-12-20. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

Wikipedia has articles on both of these terms, so that would be one place to start. Although you may not be able to cite Wikipedia as a source, both of these articles have good References sections.

Here are the Wikipedia definitions (emphasis added):

* [Cognitive bias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_bias): "a systematic pattern of deviation from norm or rationality in judgment."
* [Cognitive distortion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_distortion): "an exaggerated or irrational thought pattern **involved in the onset or perpetuation of psychopathological states**, such as depression and anxiety."

So both of these terms apply to thought patterns that deviate from a theoretical rational standard. But cognitive distortions apply specifically to states considered psychologically abnormal, while cognitive biases refer to properties of human thinking that tend to affect everyone. The examples given in the articles seem to support this distinction.

As you mentioned, cognitive distortions could be seen as a subset of cognitive biases, specifically the subset that leads to psychopathological conditions.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I had an idea, maybe **biases** are about us ignoring a part of the total information or facts available and **distortions** are about us interpreting or processing the availlable facts in the wrong way.  ANY COMMENTS??  
> **username_1**: @username_0 I don't think that distinction is generally true. For example, *confirmation bias* is a type of cognitive bias in which people tend to promote information that confirms their preconceptions and discredit information that goes against their beliefs. So they acknowledge the available information, but they interpret information differently depending on whether it supports their argument.  
> **username_0**: Yup I understand your viewpoint , appreciate your effort trying to answer my question.  

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