Why do we compare everything to the first piece of information we received?
Imagine seeing a jacket marked “Originally $500—now $180.” Even if $180 is still too expensive, it suddenly feels like a bargain. Why? Your mind has latched onto the first number: $500.
This is anchoring bias—our tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information we receive when making a decision. The anchor may be a price, salary offer, house listing, estimate, or even a random number mentioned in conversation.
It shows up everywhere. A car seller starts with a high price, and every later negotiation revolves around it. In a job interview, the first salary figure can quietly shape the entire discussion. Even doctors and managers can be influenced by an early guess before all the evidence is reviewed.
The best defense is simple: pause before reacting. Ask, “What would I think if I had never heard that first number?” Then compare independent facts—market prices, data, alternatives, and your real needs.
The first number is not necessarily the truth. Often, it is just the first number.
