Confirmation Bias
- The tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, while giving disproportionately less consideration to alternative possibilities.
Simple Version
Confirmation bias is when people tend to look for and believe information that supports what they already think, and ignore information that contradicts it.
Example
The politician’s supporters showed confirmation bias by only sharing news articles that supported their candidate’s policies, while ignoring opposing views.
Real World
Confirmation bias can lead to poor decision-making and reinforce existing social and cultural divisions.
Synonyms
- Similar: Selective perception, cognitive bias, myside bias
Etymology
- The term “confirmation bias” was first introduced by English psychologist Peter Wason in 1960, and has since been widely used in psychology and social sciences to describe this common cognitive bias.
Denotations
- Confirmation bias can also refer to the tendency to interpret ambiguous or neutral information in a way that supports one’s preexisting beliefs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can confirmation bias be overcome?
Confirmation bias can be overcome by actively seeking out diverse perspectives, considering alternative explanations, and being open to changing one’s beliefs based on new evidence.
Is confirmation bias a natural human tendency?
Yes, confirmation bias is a natural human tendency that arises from cognitive and motivational factors, such as the desire for consistency and the avoidance of cognitive dissonance.
Can confirmation bias be used to manipulate people's opinions?
Yes, confirmation bias can be exploited by manipulative individuals or groups to influence people’s opinions and decisions, often by selectively presenting information that supports a particular agenda.