Self-consistency bias

Self-consistency bias is a cognitive bias where individuals mistakenly believe that their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors have remained consistent over time. This bias can lead to distorted perceptions of one's past and future actions, often projecting current beliefs or emotional states back into the past and anticipated into the future. It fits into the broader category of 'Lack of meaning,' where individuals impose consistency to maintain a coherent self-image.

How it works

The self-consistency bias operates on the principle that individuals seek to maintain a coherent self-identity. This is achieved by reconstructing past events or beliefs to align with present ones. When recalling past events or decisions, people may unconsciously alter their memories to ensure they fit with their current self-perception. This is partly because a consistent self-narrative enhances one's feelings of control and stability.

Examples

• A person who now considers themselves environmentally conscious may misremember the extent of their concern and actions taken for environmental causes in the past.
• Someone who has recently adopted a healthier lifestyle might believe they always prioritized health, even if they engaged in unhealthy behaviors not long ago.
• In relationships, individuals might recall past arguments in a way that aligns with their current feelings about the relationship, interpreting past events through the lens of current emotions.

Consequences

• Distorted self-perception, which can impact decision making and personal growth.
• Difficulty in recognizing changes in personal beliefs or behaviors over time.
• Potentially strained relationships due to misremembered past interactions.

Counteracting

• Keeping a personal journal to track thoughts and behaviors over time, which can serve as an objective record to counter memory bias.
• Engaging in regular self-reflection and discussions with trusted friends or mentors to receive diverse perspectives.
• Acknowledging the possibility of change and the natural evolution of beliefs as a part of personal growth.

Critiques

• Some argue that not all recollections align with contemporary beliefs, suggesting that other biases or a genuine understanding of change may also inform memory.
• The emphasis on self-consistency may overlook the complexity and fluidity of human nature and personal identity.

Fields of Impact

Also known as

Relevant Research

• Relation of implicit theories to the construction of personal histories

  Ross, M. (1989)

  Psychological Review

• Affective forecasting

  Wilson, T. D., & Gilbert, D. T. (2003)

  Advances in Experimental Social Psychology

• The construction of autobiographical memories in the self-memory system

  Conway, M. A., & Pleydell-Pearce, C. W. (2000)

  Psychological Review