Desirability bias, also known as wishful thinking bias, is a psychological phenomenon that influences our decision-making and judgement. It is the tendency to interpret and evaluate information and facts in a way that corresponds to our own wishes and preferences. This can lead to a distorted perception of objective realities and subjective preferences over objective facts.

The desirability bias can occur in many situations in life. For example, when we have to make an important decision, such as choosing a job or a partner, we tend to give more weight to information that supports our wishes and hopes. We overvalue positive information and undervalue negative information, which can lead to biased decisions.

This bias also has an impact on the way we search for and interpret information. We tend to look for information that confirms our existing beliefs and desires rather than looking for objective data. This can lead to confirmation bias, where we only look for evidence of what we already believe.

It is important to recognise that the desirability bias can be subtle and often occurs unconsciously. To make better decisions, it is helpful to be aware of your own preferences and consciously seek out objective information. It can also be helpful to seek the opinions and advice of other people to get a more balanced perspective.

In psychology, the desirability bias is intensively researched as it plays an important role in human decision-making. It can also be used in marketing and advertising to present products and services in a way that appeals to consumers' desires and preferences.

To summarise, desirability bias is a psychological phenomenon where we tend to interpret and make decisions in a way that suits our own desires and preferences. This bias can influence our decision making and it is important to be aware of its effects in order to make more informed decisions.