Subjective vs. Biased — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 24, 2024
Subjective refers to personal perspectives influenced by individual feelings, while biased implies an unfair or prejudiced inclination, often disregarding objective reasoning.
Difference Between Subjective and Biased
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Subjective thinking involves personal opinions, interpretations, or feelings, reflecting an individual's unique perspective. Whereas, biased suggests a prejudiced viewpoint that unfairly favors one side over another, often without a balanced consideration of the facts.
In everyday communication, subjective opinions are commonly expressed, indicating personal preferences or experiences. On the other hand, a biased comment or decision typically carries a negative connotation, indicating a lack of fairness or impartiality.
Subjective judgments can be essential in areas like art criticism or personal preferences, where individual experiences and feelings are valid and valuable. Conversely, biased opinions can undermine trust and accuracy, especially in settings that require objective analysis, such as scientific research or journalism.
While everyone has subjective views based on their personal experiences, biases are often rooted in broader societal, cultural, or psychological influences and can lead to discrimination or unfair treatment. Whereas subjective views are openly personal and acknowledged as such, biases may be unrecognized or undisclosed by the individual.
In contexts such as law or journalism, striving for objectivity is crucial; subjective opinions must be carefully distinguished from factual reporting. However, biased reporting or judgment can severely compromise the integrity and credibility of information or legal outcomes.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Based on personal opinions, feelings, or perspectives.
Showing prejudice for or against someone or something unfairly.
Connotation
Neutral, indicating personal perspective.
Negative, indicating unfairness or prejudice.
Acceptability
Common and acceptable in personal or cultural discussions.
Often unacceptable in professional or objective analysis.
Influence
Influenced by individual experiences and emotions.
Influenced by preconceived notions or stereotypes.
Awareness
Individuals are generally aware of their subjectivity.
Individuals may be unaware of their biases or may hide them.
Compare with Definitions
Subjective
Influenced by personal beliefs or feelings rather than facts.
Subjective experiences vary greatly from person to person.
Biased
Showing prejudice for or against someone or something unfairly.
Their decision was clearly biased.
Subjective
Relating to the mind as the subject of experience.
Phenomenology studies subjective consciousness.
Biased
Inclined or predisposed to a particular belief.
She was biased towards traditional solutions.
Subjective
Based on personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
Her review of the film was highly subjective.
Biased
Affected by bias and not neutral.
A biased sample of the population was surveyed.
Subjective
Pertaining to subjects as opposed to objects.
Subjective reality is influenced by one's perception.
Biased
Influenced by personal and often unreasoned judgment.
His biased opinion did not take the facts into account.
Subjective
Personal and individual.
Art appreciation is highly subjective.
Biased
Marked by a tendency to favor one side unduly.
The biased coverage of the news was criticized.
Subjective
Dependent on or taking place in a person's mind rather than the external world
"The sensation of pain is a highly subjective experience that varies by culture as well as by individual temperament and situation" (John Hoberman).
Biased
Marked by or exhibiting bias; prejudiced
Gave a biased account of the trial.
Subjective
Based on a given person's experience, understanding, and feelings; personal or individual
Admitted he was making a highly subjective judgment.
Biased
Exhibiting bias; prejudiced.
The newspaper gave a biased account of the incident.
Subjective
(Psychology) Not caused by external stimuli.
Biased
Angled at a slant.
The table had a biased edge.
Subjective
(Medicine) Of, relating to, or designating a symptom or complaint perceived by a patient.
Biased
(electrical engineering) On which an electrical bias is applied.
Subjective
Expressing or bringing into prominence the individuality of the artist or author.
Biased
(statistics) Exhibiting a systematic distortion of results due to a factor not allowed for in its derivation; skewed.
Subjective
(Grammar) Relating to or being the nominative case.
Biased
Simple past tense and past participle of bias
She biased them against him for no apparent reason.
Subjective
Relating to the real nature of something; essential.
Biased
Favoring one person or side over another;
A biased account of the trial
A decision that was partial to the defendant
Subjective
Formed, as in opinions, based upon a person's feelings or intuition, not upon observation or reasoning; coming more from within the observer than from observations of the external environment.
Biased
Excessively devoted to one faction
Subjective
Pertaining to subjects as opposed to objects (A subject is one who perceives or is aware; an object is the thing perceived or the thing that the subject is aware of.)
Subjective
Resulting from or pertaining to personal mindsets or experience, arising from perceptive mental conditions within the brain and not necessarily or directly from external stimuli.
Subjective
Lacking in reality or substance.
Subjective
As used by Carl Jung, the innate worldview orientation of the introverted personality types.
Subjective
Experienced by a person mentally and not directly verifiable by others.
Subjective
Describing conjugation of a verb that indicates only the subject (agent), not indicating the object (patient) of the action. In linguistic descriptions of Tundra Nenets, among others.
Subjective
Of or pertaining to a subject.
Subjective
Especially, pertaining to, or derived from, one's own consciousness, in distinction from external observation; ralating to the mind, or intellectual world, in distinction from the outward or material excessively occupied with, or brooding over, one's own internal states.
Subjective
Modified by, or making prominent, the individuality of a writer or an artist; as, a subjective drama or painting; a subjective writer.
Subjective
Taking place within the mind and modified by individual bias;
A subjective judgment
Subjective
Of a mental act performed entirely within the mind;
A cognition is an immanent act of mind
Common Curiosities
Can a subjective opinion be unbiased?
Yes, a subjective opinion can be unbiased if it is acknowledged as personal and does not unfairly favor one side.
Why is it important to distinguish between subjective and biased?
Distinguishing between them is crucial for clear communication and fair decision-making, especially in professional settings.
Can subjective experiences be shared or universal?
While subjective experiences are personal, many can resonate widely, reflecting shared human conditions.
What is the difference between subjective and biased?
Subjective refers to perspectives based on personal feelings, while biased indicates an unfair or prejudiced inclination.
What are the effects of bias in the workplace?
Bias in the workplace can lead to unfair treatment, discrimination, and a lack of diversity.
What is the impact of biased reporting in journalism?
Biased reporting can undermine trust in the media and misinform the public.
Is it possible to eliminate bias completely?
It is challenging to eliminate bias completely, but awareness and efforts towards objectivity can reduce its impact.
How can one identify if they are being biased?
Reflecting on whether the opinion is influenced by unjustified preferences or stereotypes can help identify bias.
What role does bias play in media?
Bias can affect how information is presented in the media, potentially leading to misinformation or a skewed public perception.
Is being subjective necessarily a bad thing?
Being subjective is not inherently bad; it reflects the natural human condition of experiencing the world personally.
Why might subjective opinions vary widely among individuals?
Subjective opinions vary due to different backgrounds, experiences, and emotional responses.
Are subjective views important in scientific research?
While scientific research strives for objectivity, subjective insights can play a role in forming hypotheses and interpreting results.
Can bias be unconscious?
Yes, many biases operate unconsciously, influencing decisions and perceptions without conscious awareness.
How can biases be reduced in decision-making?
Employing objective criteria, seeking diverse viewpoints, and being aware of personal prejudices can help reduce biases.
How does culture influence subjective perceptions?
Culture shapes values, beliefs, and experiences, influencing how individuals perceive and interpret the world.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
