Recency Bias: Why Recent Information Dominates Judgment

Recency bias is the tendency to place disproportionate weight on the most recent information when making decisions or evaluations. The latest event feels more important, more accurate, or more relevant—even if older evidence is far stronger.

This bias explains why people overreact to short-term trends, recent feedback, or temporary market changes. Investors chase recent performance. Managers overvalue the last few weeks of employee behavior. Students judge their entire academic ability based on the latest exam score.

Recency bias creates unstable decision-making. Opinions fluctuate wildly because they are anchored to the latest data point rather than the overall pattern.

The best defense is widening the evaluation window. Looking at long-term trends, cumulative results, or historical patterns restores balance and reduces emotional reactivity.