Survivorship bias

Survivorship bias is a logical error that occurs when we focus only on the people or things that “survived” a process, overlooking those that didn’t. This can lead to false conclusions because the failures-the ones that didn’t survive—often hold key information that is missing from the analysis. — We may focus on people who survived or succeeded with a certain diet or workout routine and conclude that it's highly effective, forgetting those who tried the same methods but didn’t get results or experienced harm.

🎯 Why it matters: Survivorship bias can lead us to overestimate success, underestimate risks, and make poor decisions based on incomplete data. It's a reminder to ask about what's missing, not just what's visible.