What is the main characteristic of cognitive bias?

Cognitive bias is primarily characterized by its automatic influence on decision-making. This means that it occurs without conscious awareness and can directly affect how individuals process information, make judgments, and ultimately arrive at decisions. These biases are often subconscious and can lead individuals to draw erroneous conclusions based on distorted thinking patterns, heuristics, or instinctual responses rather than deliberate, rational thought processes.

The other options do not capture the essence of cognitive bias effectively. For instance, biases are not always conscious and deliberate; they often operate outside of our awareness. Additionally, cognitive biases can vary significantly from person to person, influenced by individual backgrounds, experiences, and contexts, making them unpredictable rather than identical for everyone. Lastly, while cognitive bias can impact hiring decisions, it is not limited to that area, as it spans various aspects of life and decision-making processes. Recognizing the automatic and unconscious nature of these biases is crucial for fostering awareness and promoting fair decision-making practices.