Which term describes when judgments are influenced by personal beliefs rather than facts?

• A. Opinion
• B. Circumstances
• C. Bias
• D. Access to Resources

Answer: (C)

Bias is a tendency to make judgments shaped more by personal beliefs, stereotypes, or expectations than by objective evidence. This means conclusions can lean toward what we already think, even when the facts don’t fully support them. Bias can be conscious or unconscious, so it can affect decisions without us realizing it. In criminology practice, spotting bias helps ensure assessments and conclusions are grounded in evidence rather than preconceptions. An opinion is a belief about something and may be informed by evidence or not, but it doesn’t inherently imply a systematic tilt away from facts. Circumstances are surrounding factors that can influence decisions but aren’t the name for this mental tilt. Access to resources concerns what information or tools are available and doesn’t describe the cognitive influence described here.