Tricking the Jedi Mind: Unconscious Biases in Conflict

We all hold unconscious biases. These biases shape how we approach situations and deal with conflict. This post introduces the seven main types of unconscious biases: and demonstrates their power by showing how they were the factors that led to Anakin Skywalker’s fall to the dark side in Revenge of the Sith.

The main unconscious biases are known as the framing effect, the fundamental attribution error, entrapment, the backfire effect, overconfidence bias, confirmation bias, and ingroup/outgroup affiliation.

In Star Wars and Conflict Resolution, Prof. Joshua Weiss explains how Palpatine uses the framing effect to dominate Anakin’s perception of the world around him. He tells Anakin “bad things are good, if they are done for good reasons.” Palpatine uses this framing to influence Anakin throughout the rest of the film as he strays further and further from the Jedi way.

Have you ever heard a more absolute sentence? These biases are so powerful we don’t even notice the effects they have

The fundamental attribution error is similar to the framing effect. It refers to the double standard that people hold when comparing the actions of others to their own. This occurs often throughout Revenge of the Sith, when Anakin, Palpatine, and Obi-Wan are all able to justify their own actions while simultaneously rebuking the same exact actions when done by others.

Entrapment happens when people continue behavior that invests them further into holding a position, even when it is irrational to do so. The backfire effect often happens in conjunction with entrapment, meaning when someone confronts information that goes against their beliefs, they become more certain their own beliefs are correct. Anakin can’t bear to lose Padmé. His visions of Padmé dying caused every action he took to be in the best interest for himself, no matter how illogical the actions might be. With each action he takes to prevent her death, his ability to pull back reconsider, and ask himself “Do I really think it is worth turning to the dark side to prevent this risk?” diminishes.

Overconfidence bias causes people to rely on their own beliefs more than other facts and is often accompanied by confirmation bias, which causes people to see facts that support their pre-existing beliefs as more credible than other facts. Obi-Wan experiences overconfidence and confirmation bias when approached by Mace Windu and Yoda about Anakin’s relationship with Palpatine. Obi-Wan believes that because Anakin is the Chosen One, he will not betray them. “With all due respect, Master, is he not the Chosen One? Is he not to destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force?” This despite the obvious signs that Obi-Wan could see that his former Padawan was on a dark path.

Anakin and Obi-Wan: Not on the same team anymore

Finally, Anakin is influenced from ingroup/outgroup affiliation bias. This is the tendency to view members of your own group favorably, and negatively view members of the other group. When Palpatine shares the legend about Darth Plagueis the Wise with Anakin, he convinces Anakin to view himself as someone as belonging to the team who wants to protect democracy, the Republic, and the Senate, rather than to Team Jedi. It took only a few more moves down this path for Anakin to see himself as separate from the Jedi. Now on Team Democracy (which conveniently aligns with Team Keep Padme From Dying), Anakin views Team Jedi as Team Anti-Democracy.… and if they are not with him, they are his enemy.

— Written by Elizabeth Mayans, SW&CR Padawan and 2L student at the University of Oregon School of Law