THE IMPACT OF COGNITIVE BIASES ON THE IMPARTIALITY OF INTELLIGENCE CONTENT

Abstract

Research in Cognitive Psychology shows that the human mind is subject to a variety of constraints, which curb its rationality and interfere with man’s ability to make logical choices and judgments. Errors of reasoning caused by the simplification of the representation of the world by the intellect, that is to say the cognitive biases, are at the origin of this process. The study of such phenomenon draws the attention of Intelligence professionals, since cognitive biases pose a risk for the knowledge production process and, therefore, for the proper advising to the national decision-making process. One of the distinctive attributes of Intelligence, impartiality, is particularly vulnerable to the occurrence of cognitive biases, thus requiring control by Intelligence organizations as a premise to ensure the usefulness of their product to society and the state. The objective of this work is to point out the risk of the impact of cognitive biases on impartiality and indicate opportunities for improving the management of the knowledge production process. Professional training and improvement in the control of work processes, with focus in cognitive biases, may contribute to the enhancement of the final product of Intelligence agencies and to the strengthening of the Intelligence activity.