Research on the Anchoring Effect in the Judicial Field

Abstract

The anchoring effect is essentially a cognitive bias in which people tend to overly rely on the first piece of information they receive (the anchor) when making decisions, or are influenced by the first piece of information they received, which further leads to obvious deviations in subsequent judgments. This phenomenon is evident in multiple fields, including the legal field. This article will comprehensively introduce the mechanism of anchoring effect in the judicial field by collecting, analyzing, and integrating existing research results. It will also draw conclusions on the size of initial anchor values and how they can have a negative impact on judicial decision-making. Finally, potential solutions will be provided.