The Halo Effect: Definition, Examples & Impact On Everyday Life

The halo effect is a cognitive bias that causes you to overgeneralize a single positive quality of a person or object. Simply put, it happens when we let our minds define something as a whole based on a single trait we find appealing or admirable. Like all cognitive biases, this systematic error in thinking can cause us to misjudge situations and make suboptimal decisions.

Read on to learn more about the halo effect, find out how to recognize it in everyday scenarios, and discover its impact on relationships and decision-making. We’ll also discuss how it affects people’s perceptions of different Enneagram types, helping you understand personality biases and see others more clearly.

What Is the Halo Effect?

The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which people form a favorable impression of a person, a product, or other objects based on a single positive trait. In other words, it occurs when we generalize a particular aspect of someone or something, assuming that if one quality is good, the rest must be positive as well, even if these aspects are unrelated.

For instance, if you find someone attractive, you may also assume they’re kind, even when they’re not. This perception bias underscores the effects of first impressions, showing that our initial judgments may shape our later beliefs, even though they are often based on surface-level information rather than objective evidence.

This term was coined in 1920 by American psychologist Edward Thorndike, who studied how commanding officers evaluate their subordinates.

When asked to rate their intelligence, leadership, character, and other qualities, these officers were found to generalize a single outstanding trait into an overall judgment of a person. For instance, taller, more attractive soldiers were also rated as more intelligent.

As such, Thorndike concluded that people tend to think of others as either generally good or bad, and this impression colors their judgments of their specific qualities and characters.

Halo Effect vs. Horn Effect

The halo effect and the horn effect are both cognitive biases that shape our perception of other people or objects, yet they work in opposite ways.

While the halo effect occurs when a single positive trait colors our perception, the horn effect overgeneralizes negative traits. Because of this, you may judge people negatively due to a poor first impression. For instance, if someone seems socially awkward, you may assume they are incompetent at their work, even if their performance is flawless.

Examples of the Halo Effect in Everyday Life

Below are 12 examples of what the halo effect looks like in everyday life to help you recognize this cognitive bias more easily:

#1. Workplace

Here are some typical cases of the halo effect in the workplace:

• An employee who is well-spoken and charismatic gets high performance ratings despite missing deadlines.
• A colleague with excellent analytical skills is trusted with presentations in team settings, even though public speaking isn’t their strongest suit.
• A recruiter hires a candidate from a prestigious university or company because they assume their professional background ensures a strong skill set, even if their actual performance is suboptimal.

#2. Relationships

Here’s what the halo effect may look like in relationships:

• You believe your date is emotionally available because they’re funny, charming, and chatty, even though they avoid serious conversations.
• You overlook controlling behavior, dishonesty, and other obvious red flags in your significant other because they’re very generous with gifts.
• You assume you have excellent overall compatibility with a person just because they have a similar sense of humor and like the same music you do.

#3. School

Meanwhile, the halo effect in school may look like this:

• A popular classmate is consistently chosen as a leader on group projects despite lacking organizational skills.
• A teacher assumes that a student who confidently voices their opinions in discussions has a good understanding of the subject, even though their knowledge or reasoning is flawed.
• Your classmates perceive you as a high achiever and ask you for help with schoolwork just because you did well in the first semester, ignoring the fact that your performance declined later on.

#4. Social Media

Lastly, some common examples of the halo effect on social media include the following:

• You trust an influencer’s product recommendations just because they have a large following.
• Viewers assume a content creator consistently makes high-quality content only because one of their posts went viral.
• You take financial advice from an influencer who flaunts designer items, assuming these reflect that they’re good at managing money, even though they receive luxury items from sponsorships.

How the Halo Effect Impacts Relationships and Decision-Making

The halo effect impacts relationships and decision-making by distorting people’s perception of reality, which can lead to poor judgment.

In relationships, this cognitive shortcut most commonly results in idealization. You may assume someone who is charming, intelligent, funny, or attractive has all the qualities you seek in a romantic partner, creating an idealized version of them in your mind. This creates a false sense of compatibility; instead of seeing the person clearly, you project your expectations onto them.

As a result, you may not only choose to form a close connection with someone who isn’t truly compatible with you but also excuse poor or even toxic behavior. As you begin to see the reality for what it truly is, you may experience confusion, disillusionment, and regret.

The halo effect can also impact your decisions outside of relationships. You may, for example, buy overpriced or low-quality products just because their packaging looks nice or an attractive influencer advertises them.

The latter becomes an even greater risk with the rise of AI and beauty filters. A study done by Gulati et al. shows that people perceive individuals with AI-based beauty filters as not only more attractive but also more intelligent and trustworthy. Therefore, developing discernment and critical thinking is essential for good judgment.

Ultimately, the halo effect can impair your judgment, causing you to trust people or companies that appear credible or appealing. As such, it can cause you to make decisions based on first or false impressions, making you more likely to overlook risks and increasing your susceptibility to manipulation.

With this in mind, let’s discuss the connection between the Enneagram and the halo effect by exploring how this cognitive bias shapes the perception of different personality types.

The Halo Effect and Personality Perception

The halo effect can influence your perception of other people, leading you to draw conclusions about their entire personalities from a single trait or behavior. As a result, it may lead to personality biases that prevent you from truly understanding others.

Here’s how the halo effect usually influences how people perceive the nine Enneagram types:

• Enneagram 1. Since Ones are principled and conscientious, people may assume they’re always right and morally correct in all situations, without exception.
• Enneagram 2. They are warm, generous, and kind-hearted, leading people to believe that they could never act selfishly.
• Enneagram 3. Threes are ambitious, image-conscious, and self-confident, so people may assume they’re successful in all areas of life, even when it may not be the case.
• Enneagram 4. Because Fours are creative, introspective, and emotionally deep, many people assume they have a knack for the arts, even though not all of them have an interest in art.
• Enneagram 5. These individuals’ analytical skills and intellectual curiosity can make people think they’re competent in everything, even in areas where they struggle.
• Enneagram 6. Sixes are loyal, detail-oriented, and security-focused, so it’s not uncommon for people to think that they always have good judgment. However, they can still make mistakes, especially under pressure.
• Enneagram 7. Since they are optimistic and enthusiastic, people may assume they’re always happy.
• Enneagram 8. Eights exude an air of inner strength and confidence, so people may think they always feel powerful and in control, even though they, too, can be insecure.
• Enneagram 9. People with this personality type are easygoing and agreeable, which can lead others to believe they are always patient and calm, even under stress.

Ultimately, the halo effect can create a distorted view of each Enneagram type, perpetuating stereotypes and leading you to overlook their unique struggles and growth areas.

How to Recognize the Halo Effect in Yourself: 4 Practical Tips

Here are four tips that can help you recognize the halo effect in yourself and replace it with more balanced, objective, and accurate perceptions of people:

1. Practice self-awareness. Self-awareness is key to spotting and eliminating cognitive biases. Therefore, you may want to keep a journal to record your perceptions of people, see how well they reflect reality, and spot overgeneralization patterns. Pay special attention to all-or-nothing judgments, as these typically fuel perception biases.
2. Check for biases in first impressions. The halo effect is closely tied to first impressions, so the easiest way to recognize it is to examine them. Intense emotions can easily cloud your judgment, so strong positive impressions often trigger this cognitive bias.
3. Discuss your assumptions with others. If you have trouble recognizing whether someone or something is truly as good as you think, it may be a good idea to check your assumptions with friends, family members, or colleagues. Their insights can help you see things from a different perspective and reveal your blind spots.
4. Cross-check your assumptions with evidence. Instead of letting first impressions shape your judgment, seek evidence to see whether your assumptions match reality. Looking at people’s behavioral patterns, for example, can help you draw more objective conclusions than judging them based on one-off situations.

Key Takeaways

If you notice yourself engaging in the halo effect, don’t fret; it is a common occurrence, especially in relationships. Acknowledging the complexity of human nature and recognizing that people’s behavior may change across contexts and reveal different strengths and weaknesses they possess can help you reduce this cognitive bias.

Before you go, let’s recap the key points we covered in this article:

• While the halo effect and the horn effect are both cognitive biases that affect perception, the former causes people to overemphasize positive traits, whereas the latter leads to an overgeneralization of negative qualities.
• The halo effect can distort your perception of reality and other people, making you more likely to overlook risks, misjudge others, and fall prey to manipulation.
• Some strategies that can help you spot this perception bias within yourself include practicing self-awareness, comparing your assumptions against evidence, and discussing them with others.

The Halo Effect FAQ

#1. How do you avoid the halo effect?

You can avoid the halo effect by slowing down and questioning your assumptions. Instead of letting first impressions color your overall judgment of a person or an object, practice evaluating each quality or behavior individually and objectively. You can also avoid such generalization by evaluating situations based on evidence rather than assumptions.

#2. Can the halo effect influence hiring or promotions?

Yes, the halo effect can influence hiring and promotions. A study by Yijing Shao suggests that this cognitive bias influences hiring managers' decisions. Attractive appearance, for example, can make you more likely to get hired, as recruiters may assume that your abilities are as good as your looks. Likewise, it can increase your chances of getting promoted.

#3. Can the halo effect impact self-perception?

The halo effect can impact self-perception in a similar way it impacts your perception of others. If you excel in one area, you may assume you’re equally as good at another one. This can lead to overconfidence and unrealistic expectations for yourself. Furthermore, it can create blind spots in your personal growth, preventing you from recognizing your weaknesses.

#4. Why do attractive people get treated better?

Attractive people may get treated better due to the halo effect. This cognitive bias may cause others to assume that people’s physical attractiveness also reflects other positive qualities, such as intelligence, kindness, or trustworthiness. Since this isn’t always true, the halo effect can cause you to misjudge others.

#5. Is the halo effect conscious or subconscious?

The halo effect is a subconscious phenomenon. Because it happens unconsciously, it can be difficult to spot; recognizing it requires self-reflection and self-awareness. However, you can make a conscious effort to combat it by questioning your assumptions and cross-checking them with real-world evidence.