Software engineers like to believe we're driven by logic. We trust data, tests, and evidence, yet our brains rely on cognitive shortcuts that quietly influence our technical decisions, code reviews, architecture choices, and even how we perceive our teammates. In this interactive roundtable, we'll explore two common cognitive biases that affect our daily work: the **contrast effect** and the **sunk cost fallacy**. The contrast effect makes us compare ourselves with others—story points, productivity, or recognition—instead of measuring our own growth and progress. The sunk cost fallacy keeps us committed to a technology, architecture, or solution simply because we've already invested time in it, even when we know it's the wrong direction. By recognizing these biases, we can make better engineering decisions, collaborate more effectively, and build healthier, more resilient engineering teams.