What is bias? Our brain is constantly bombarded with information. In order to manage it all, it is looking for patterns and takes shortcuts. Biases are the result of this. A bias is a tendency, inclination, or prejudice toward or against an idea, object, group, or individual. Biases can be positive or negative and are often based on stereotypes, rather than actual knowledge of an individual or circumstance. Whether positive or negative, such cognitive shortcuts can result in prejudgments that lead to rash decisions or discriminatory practices.