The man has visited the hospital several times already that week, always with the same complaint. Example: Confirmation biasA 55-year-old man arrives at the ER at 3 a.m. It can lead individuals to “cherry-pick” bits of information that reinforce any prejudices or stereotypes. Confirmation bias examplesĬonfirmation bias has serious implications for our ability to seek objective facts. On the contrary, a climate change doubter likely won’t be able to recall the points made in the article.ĭue to confirmation bias, we tend to memorize and recall information that is more in line with our existing ideas. The article presents arguments in favor of cutting down fossil fuel emissions.Ī week after encountering the story, the reader who is concerned about climate change is more likely to recall these arguments in a discussion with friends. Example: Selective recallLet’s revisit the previous example on the climate change news story. Biased recall of informationĬonfirmation bias also affects what type of information we are able to recall. Even though they read the same story, their bias shapes how they evaluate the information, further reinforcing their existing beliefs. Their interpretations are based on their preexisting beliefs. The two readers have very different opinions on the same subject, formed prior to reading the article. Appeals to cut down fossil fuel emissions will be viewed favorably. On the other hand, the reader who is concerned about climate change will view the information as evidence that climate change is a threat and that something must be done about it. Any arguments raised in the article about the negative impact of fossil fuels will be dismissed. The reader who doubts climate change may interpret the article as evidence that climate change is natural and has happened at other points in history. One reader is a climate change doubter, while the other believes that climate change is a real threat. Example: Selective interpretationLet’s suppose two people read the same news story about the need to cut down on fossil fuel emissions in order to combat climate change. Even if two people are presented with the same information, it is possible that they will interpret it differently. Biased interpretation of informationĬonfirmation bias is not limited to the type of information we search for. Instead, try typing the question “which one is better, A or B?” This is more likely to yield a balanced mix of results. This will happen with any two variables: the search engine “assumes” that you think variable A is better than variable B, and shows you the results that agree with your opinion first. If you reverse the question and type “are cats better than dogs?”, you will get results in support of cats. For example, if you type the question “are dogs better than cats?” into an online search engine, articles that argue in favor of dogs will appear first. Example: Selective searchBiased search for information occurs in real life more often than we realize. Evidence that could prove them wrong is systematically disregarded. This type of bias occurs when only positive evidence is sought, or evidence that supports your expectations or hypotheses. There are three main ways that people display confirmation bias: However, it can also be applied more broadly, to include how we interpret and recall information. Forget this information quickly, not recalling reading or hearing about it later onĬonfirmation bias in psychologyIn psychology, confirmation bias is often restricted to the act of selecting information according to preexisting beliefs, while ignoring or rejecting information supporting contrary beliefs.Focus on criticizing any flaw, while that same flaw would be ignored if the information confirmed our beliefs.On the other hand, if the new information contradicts what we already believe, we respond differently. Recall it later, using it to support our belief during a discussion.When confronted with new information that confirms what we already believe, we are more likely to: Mental “shortcuts” like this are called heuristics. Processing all the facts available to us costs us time and energy, so our brains tend to pick the information that agrees most with our preexisting opinions and knowledge. Frequently asked questions about confirmation biasĬonfirmation bias is a type of cognitive bias, or an error in thinking.
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