The Psychology of Historical Thinking: How Our Biases Shape the Past (and the Stories We Tell Ourselves)
Have you ever wondered why some historical events feel like absolute truths, while others are murky, debatable, or completely ignored? Why do we idolize some figures while villainizing others? And why do people argue so much about history, even when we all have access to the same facts?
The answer isn’t just about who writes the textbooks—it’s also about how our brains work.
History isn’t just a list of facts—it’s a story we construct based on evidence, interpretation, and, unfortunately, bias. Whether we realize it or not, our cognitive biases shape the way we see history, influencing everything from how we remember events to what we choose to believe about the past.
Let’s dive into the psychology of historical thinking—how our minds shape history, and what we can do to think more critically about the past.
1️⃣ The History Illusion: Why We Think History is “Set in Stone”
One of the biggest misconceptions about history is that it’s fixed and unchanging—as if there’s a single, objective version of events. But history is not just facts—it’s the interpretation of those facts.
Why does this matter? Because when we assume history is a one-and-done kind of thing, we stop questioning it—and that’s how biases slip in.
📌 Example: The Columbus Myth
For centuries, school textbooks taught that Christopher Columbus “discovered” America in 1492.
But wait… people were already living here. So how do you “discover” a place that was already inhabited?
The Columbus narrative was shaped to fit a Eurocentric perspective, reinforcing the idea that history is told by those in power.
🔍 What This Tells Us:
The way history is framed matters just as much as the facts themselves.
📖 Source: Loewen, J. (1995). Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. The New Press.
2️⃣ Cognitive Biases That Shape Historical Thinking
We’d like to think that we’re rational thinkers, but our brains love shortcuts—which means we’re all vulnerable to biases that distort how we understand history.
🔍 A. Confirmation Bias: Seeing What We Want to See
What It Is:
We tend to seek out information that confirms what we already believe and ignore evidence that contradicts it.
How It Affects History:
- If you believe that a historical figure was a hero, you’ll focus on their good deeds and ignore the bad ones.
- If you think a historical event was unjustified, you’ll emphasize the worst aspects of it while ignoring the complexities.
📌 Example: The Founding Fathers
- In some narratives: The Founding Fathers were pure visionaries, champions of freedom and democracy.
- In others: They were elitists and slave owners who only wanted rights for wealthy landowners.
The reality? Both can be true at the same time—but confirmation bias makes people choose only the parts that fit their worldview.
📖 Source: Wineburg, S. (2001). Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past. Temple University Press.
🔍 B. Hindsight Bias: “Obviously, That Was Going to Happen”
What It Is:
Hindsight bias makes us believe that past events were inevitable, even though they weren’t obvious at the time.
How It Affects History:
- We assume that historical events “had to” unfold the way they did—even though people at the time had no idea what was coming next.
- We judge historical figures as if they should have known better, forgetting that they didn’t have the benefit of our modern knowledge.
📌 Example: World War II
- Today, we see Hitler’s rise to power as an obvious red flag.
- But in the 1930s, many people didn’t see him as an immediate threat—some even thought he could restore order.
Hindsight bias makes it easy to say, “How did they not stop him sooner?” But real history is messy, unpredictable, and full of uncertainty.
📖 Source: Tetlock, P. (2005). Expert Political Judgment: How Good Is It? How Can We Know? Princeton University Press.
🔍 C. The Presentism Problem: Judging the Past by Today’s Standards
What It Is:
Presentism is when we apply modern values and beliefs to historical figures and events, instead of understanding them within their own historical context.
How It Affects History:
- We tend to judge historical figures harshly because they didn’t align with modern values.
- While it’s important to critique the past, we also have to recognize that social norms, beliefs, and knowledge change over time.
📌 Example: Thomas Jefferson & Slavery
- Today: We recognize slavery as an undeniable moral atrocity.
- In Jefferson’s time: While some people opposed slavery, it was deeply embedded in the economy and society.
Does this excuse it? No—but understanding historical context helps us avoid oversimplification.
📖 Source: Butterfield, H. (1931). The Whig Interpretation of History. Bell.
3️⃣ How to Develop Critical Historical Thinking Skills
Now that we know how biases shape history, how can we think about the past more objectively?
✔️ Actionable Tips:
- Ask Who’s Telling the Story – Who wrote this history? What perspective is missing?
- Look for Multiple Sources – Don’t rely on just one book, documentary, or website—compare different accounts.
- Recognize Bias in Ourselves – Be aware of how your own beliefs shape how you interpret history.
- Avoid Oversimplification – History is messy. Avoid thinking in black-and-white terms.
📖 Source: Wineburg, S. (2018). Why Learn History (When It’s Already on Your Phone). University of Chicago Press.
Final Thoughts: The Past is Not a Fixed Story
The way we understand history is not just about facts—it’s about how we interpret those facts through the lens of our own biases.
- History is written by people, which means it’s shaped by perspectives, agendas, and sometimes, unintentional distortions.
- The key to thinking critically about history is recognizing that every story has multiple sides—and the truth is often more complex than we’d like it to be.
- Instead of asking, “What happened?”, we should also ask “Why do we remember it this way?”
Because history isn’t just about the past—it’s about how we understand ourselves today.
📣 Join the Conversation!
- 💬 What historical event do you think is often misinterpreted due to bias? Drop a comment and let’s discuss!
- 📚 Want to sharpen your historical thinking skills? Check out our other deep dives on history, bias, and why textbooks leave out the best parts.
- 🔔 Stay Updated: Follow us on Instagram @HistoraEDU or Pinterest for fresh insights into history—and how to think about it critically.
📖 History isn’t set in stone. Let’s keep questioning it. 🚀