In FACETS, what does Expert halo refer to?

• A. An Overconfidence Stemming From Perceived Expertise
• B. The Halo Around a Mountain
• C. The Distraction Caused by Social Interactions
• D. The Fatigue From Hiking

Answer: (A)

Expert halo is a cognitive bias where perceived expertise leads to overconfidence in judgments. In FACETS, this means that when someone is seen as highly knowledgeable, their assessments about avalanche risk, terrain, or route decisions can be given more weight than they deserve, and others may not scrutinize the reasoning as closely. The result is a tendency to accept conclusions with less evidence, underestimate uncertainty, and make riskier choices. It’s not about anything physical like the halo around a mountain, nor about distractions from social interactions or fatigue from hiking. To counter it, seek independent checks, ask for the reasoning behind claims, and use structured decision-making tools to ensure decisions are grounded in evidence rather than perceived expertise.