Subjective vs. Objective: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Subjective is based on personal opinions and feelings, while Objective is based on facts and evidence.
Key Differences
Subjective refers to perspectives colored by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. Objective, on the other hand, denotes an unbiased and fact-based viewpoint that is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
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In subjective assessments, the focus is on personal interpretation and individual response. Conversely, objective analysis relies on observable and measurable facts, independent of individual biases or emotions.
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Subjective thinking allows for creativity and personal expression, as it's rooted in personal experiences and beliefs. Objective thinking, in contrast, emphasizes logic, impartiality, and adherence to factual data.
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In subjective writing or judgment, the emphasis is on the individual's inner world. Objective approaches prioritize external reality, often requiring validation through evidence and external verification.
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Subjective evaluations are often variable, differing from person to person. Objective evaluations aim for consistency, relying on standardized criteria and observable phenomena.
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Comparison Chart
Usage in Language
Expressive, emotive language
Factual, descriptive language
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Decision Making
Influenced by personal experiences and biases
Based on factual data and logical analysis
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Subjective and Objective Definitions
Subjective
Dependent on the mind or an individual's perception for its existence.
Pain is a subjective sensation that varies from person to person.
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Objective
Unbiased, detached.
An objective observer can provide a fair judgment.
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Subjective
Relating to personal perspectives or opinions.
In art, everyone's interpretation is subjective.
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Objective
External to the mind; actual and real.
The objective reality of the situation was hard to accept.
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Subjective
Influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
Her review of the movie was highly subjective.
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Objective
Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
Her analysis of the data was completely objective.
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Subjective
Based on individual perception.
His subjective experience of the concert differed greatly from mine.
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Objective
Based on observable phenomena; presenting facts.
The objective evidence was undeniable.
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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).
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Subjective
Based on a given person's experience, understanding, and feelings; personal or individual
Admitted he was making a highly subjective judgment.
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Objective
Existing independent of or external to the mind; actual or real
Objective reality.
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Subjective
(Medicine) Of, relating to, or designating a symptom or complaint perceived by a patient.
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Objective
Uninfluenced by emotions or personal prejudices
An objective critic.
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Subjective
Expressing or bringing into prominence the individuality of the artist or author.
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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.
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Objective
The primary optical element, such as a lens or mirror, in a microscope, camera, telescope, or other optical instrument, that first receives light rays from the object and forms the image. Also called object glass, objective lens, object lens.
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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.)
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Objective
Of or relating to a material object, actual existence or reality.
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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.
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Subjective
As used by Carl Jung, the innate worldview orientation of the introverted personality types.
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Objective
(grammar) Of, or relating to a noun or pronoun used as the object of a verb.
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Subjective
Experienced by a person mentally and not directly verifiable by others.
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Objective
Of, or relating to verbal conjugation that indicates the object (patient) of an action. In linguistic descriptions of Tundra Nenets, among others.
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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.
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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.
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Subjective
Modified by, or making prominent, the individuality of a writer or an artist; as, a subjective drama or painting; a subjective writer.
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Subjective
Taking place within the mind and modified by individual bias;
A subjective judgment
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Objective
The lens or lenses of a camera, microscope, or other optical device closest to the object being examined.
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Subjective
Of a mental act performed entirely within the mind;
A cognition is an immanent act of mind
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Subjective
Pertaining to the subject, especially the mind.
Subjective reality is often influenced by our beliefs.
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Objective
Of or pertaining to an object; contained in, or having the nature or position of, an object; outward; external; extrinsic; - an epithet applied to whatever is exterior to the mind, or which is simply an object of thought or feeling, as opposed to being related to thoughts of feelings, and opposed to subjective.
In the Middle Ages, subject meant substance, and has this sense in Descartes and Spinoza: sometimes, also, in Reid. Subjective is used by William of Occam to denote that which exists independent of mind; objective, what is formed by the mind. This shows what is meant by realitas objectiva in Descartes. Kant and Fichte have inverted the meanings. Subject, with them, is the mind which knows; object, that which is known; subjective, the varying conditions of the knowing mind; objective, that which is in the constant nature of the thing known.
Objective has come to mean that which has independent existence or authority, apart from our experience or thought. Thus, moral law is said to have objective authority, that is, authority belonging to itself, and not drawn from anything in our nature.
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Objective
Unbiased; unprejudiced; fair; uninfluenced by personal feelings or personal interests; considering only the facts of a situation unrelated to the observer; - of judgments, opinions, evaluations, conclusions, reasoning processes.
Objective means that which belongs to, or proceeds from, the object known, and not from the subject knowing, and thus denotes what is real, in opposition to that which is ideal - what exists in nature, in contrast to what exists merely in the thought of the individual.
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Objective
The goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be attainable);
The sole object of her trip was to see her children
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Objective
Undistorted by emotion or personal bias; based on observable phenomena;
An objective appraisal
Objective evidence
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Objective
Serving as or indicating the object of a verb or of certain prepositions and used for certain other purposes;
Objective case
Accusative endings
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Objective
Emphasizing or expressing things as perceived without distortion of personal feelings or interpretation;
Objective art
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Objective
Belonging to immediate experience of actual things or events;
Concrete benefits
A concrete example
There is no objective evidence of anything of the kind
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is subjective thinking always negative?
No, subjective thinking is not inherently negative; it's simply based on personal perspective.
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Can a statement be both subjective and objective?
No, a statement is either influenced by personal bias (subjective) or based on facts (objective).
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What makes an argument objective?
An argument is objective if it's based on facts and evidence, without personal bias.
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Can a person's experience be objective?
Personal experiences are generally subjective, as they're influenced by individual perceptions.
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Can art be objective?
Art is typically subjective, as it's influenced by personal expression and interpretation.
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What does subjective mean in simple terms?
Subjective refers to things influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
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How can one identify if a perspective is subjective?
If it's influenced by personal feelings or opinions, it's subjective.
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What role does objectivity play in journalism?
Objectivity is crucial in journalism for unbiased and factual reporting.
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Can objective information change over time?
Yes, objective information can change with new evidence or discoveries.
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Why is objectivity important in decision-making?
Objectivity ensures decisions are based on facts and logical analysis, not personal bias.
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Is it possible to be completely objective?
Complete objectivity is difficult, as personal biases can unconsciously influence perspectives.
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Are subjective opinions irrelevant in scientific research?
In scientific research, objective facts are prioritized over subjective opinions.
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Is subjectivity always based on emotions?
Subjectivity often involves emotions, but it can also stem from personal beliefs or experiences.
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Is subjective thinking important in creative fields?
Yes, subjective thinking fuels creativity and personal expression in arts and literature.
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Does subjectivity affect our perception of reality?
Yes, subjectivity can significantly influence how individuals perceive and interpret reality.
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Can news reporting be entirely objective?
While difficult, news reporting strives for objectivity by presenting facts without bias.
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Can a scientific theory be subjective?
Scientific theories are based on objective evidence, though initial hypotheses may start with subjective insights.
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Why is it important to understand the difference between subjective and objective?
Understanding this difference helps in accurately interpreting information and making informed decisions.
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Do subjective opinions have value in research?
Subjective opinions can provide insights in research, especially in qualitative studies.
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How can one maintain objectivity in an argument?
By focusing on factual evidence and avoiding personal biases or emotional influence.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.