Post by ashliy on Jan 17, 2017 14:43:20 GMT
You Can’t Handle the Truth: How Confirmation Bias Distorts Your Opinions
The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him.
– Leo Tolstoy
Your thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and worldviews are based on years and years of experience, reading, and rational, objective analysis.
Right?
Wrong.
Your thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and worldviews are based on years and years of paying attention to information that confirmed what you already believed while ignoring information that challenged your preconceived notions.
Like it or not, the truth is that all of us are susceptible to falling into a sneaky psychological trap called confirmation bias.
One of the many cognitive biases that afflict humans, confirmation bias refers to our tendency to search for and favor information that confirms our beliefs while simultaneously ignoring or devaluing information that contradicts our beliefs.
This phenomenon is also called confirmatory bias or myside bias.
It is a normal human tendency, and even experienced scientists and researchers are not immune.
Here are two examples of confirmation bias in action, based on two commonly debated issues:
Climate change: Person A believes climate change is a serious issue and they only search out and read stories about environmental conservation, climate change, and renewable energy. As a result, Person A continues to confirm and support their current beliefs.
Person B does not believe climate change is a serious issue, and they only search out and read stories that discuss how climate change is a myth, why scientists are incorrect, and how we are all being fooled. As a result, Person B continues to confirm and support their current beliefs.
Gun control: Person A is in support of gun control. They seek out news stories and opinion pieces that reaffirm the need for limitations on gun ownership. When they hear stories about shootings in the media, they interpret them in a way that supports their existing beliefs.
Person B is adamantly opposed to gun control. They seek out news sources that are aligned with their position, and when they come across news stories about shootings, they interpret them in a way that supports their current point of view. (source)
Right now, as you are reading this – other examples of confirmation bias are probably starting to creep into your mind.
After all, it is election season in the US, a time for which an apt nickname would be “Confirmation Bias Season.”
In politics, confirmation bias explains, for example, why people with right-wing views read and view right-wing media and why people with left-wing views read and view left wing media. In general, people both:
Want to be exposed to information and opinions that confirm what they already believe.
Have a desire to ignore, or not be exposed to, information or opinions that challenge what they already believe.
Even in cases where people do expose themselves to alternative points of view, it may be a form of confirmation bias; they want to confirm that the opposition is, indeed, wrong.
Think about it: Have you noticed that people don’t want to hear anything negative about a candidate they’ve chosen to support? In many cases, it doesn’t matter what the facts are. Followers will resort to mental gymnastics – complete with cognitive flips and contortions – to justify continued support for their candidate.
In fact, when our deepest convictions are challenged by contradictory evidence, we may experience the “backfire effect.”
Coined by Brendan Nyhan and Jason Reifler, the term backfire effect describes how some individuals, when confronted with evidence that conflicts with their beliefs, come to hold their original position even more strongly.
The more ideological and the more emotion-based a belief is, the more likely it is that contrary evidence will be ineffective.
Confirmation bias has become even more prevalent because just about any belief can be “supported” with information found online.
The following techniques may help.
Be open to new information and other perspectives. Don’t be afraid to test or revise your beliefs.
Even if you consider yourself an expert on a topic, approach new information as a beginner would.
Ask someone you trust to play devil’s advocate. Ask them to challenge your assumptions.
Don’t let a limited amount of past experience (particularly one negative experience) carry too much weight. Be sure to envision the future, not just replay the past.
Remind yourself that your intuition is lazy (designed to make predictions quickly, but not always accurately) and does not want to be challenged. Seek and fully evaluate other alternatives before making decisions.
When you believe something strongly, but don’t have recent and compelling evidence to support that belief, look for more information.
Check your ego. If you can’t stand to be wrong, you’re going to continue to fall victim to biases. Learn to value truth rather than the need to be right.
Look for disagreement. If you’re right, then disagreement will help highlight this and if you’re wrong – it will help you identify why.
Ask insightful, open-ended questions. Direct them to people who are not afraid to be honest with you. Be quiet and listen to what they say.
Examine conflicting data. Discuss it with people who disagree with you and evaluate the evidence they present.
Consider all the viewpoints that you can find – not just the ones that support your current beliefs or ideas.
www.jakeshealthsolutions.com/you-cant-handle-the-truth-how-confirmation-bias-distorts-your-opinions-4143
The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him.
– Leo Tolstoy
Your thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and worldviews are based on years and years of experience, reading, and rational, objective analysis.
Right?
Wrong.
Your thoughts, opinions, beliefs, and worldviews are based on years and years of paying attention to information that confirmed what you already believed while ignoring information that challenged your preconceived notions.
Like it or not, the truth is that all of us are susceptible to falling into a sneaky psychological trap called confirmation bias.
One of the many cognitive biases that afflict humans, confirmation bias refers to our tendency to search for and favor information that confirms our beliefs while simultaneously ignoring or devaluing information that contradicts our beliefs.
This phenomenon is also called confirmatory bias or myside bias.
It is a normal human tendency, and even experienced scientists and researchers are not immune.
Here are two examples of confirmation bias in action, based on two commonly debated issues:
Climate change: Person A believes climate change is a serious issue and they only search out and read stories about environmental conservation, climate change, and renewable energy. As a result, Person A continues to confirm and support their current beliefs.
Person B does not believe climate change is a serious issue, and they only search out and read stories that discuss how climate change is a myth, why scientists are incorrect, and how we are all being fooled. As a result, Person B continues to confirm and support their current beliefs.
Gun control: Person A is in support of gun control. They seek out news stories and opinion pieces that reaffirm the need for limitations on gun ownership. When they hear stories about shootings in the media, they interpret them in a way that supports their existing beliefs.
Person B is adamantly opposed to gun control. They seek out news sources that are aligned with their position, and when they come across news stories about shootings, they interpret them in a way that supports their current point of view. (source)
Right now, as you are reading this – other examples of confirmation bias are probably starting to creep into your mind.
After all, it is election season in the US, a time for which an apt nickname would be “Confirmation Bias Season.”
In politics, confirmation bias explains, for example, why people with right-wing views read and view right-wing media and why people with left-wing views read and view left wing media. In general, people both:
Want to be exposed to information and opinions that confirm what they already believe.
Have a desire to ignore, or not be exposed to, information or opinions that challenge what they already believe.
Even in cases where people do expose themselves to alternative points of view, it may be a form of confirmation bias; they want to confirm that the opposition is, indeed, wrong.
Think about it: Have you noticed that people don’t want to hear anything negative about a candidate they’ve chosen to support? In many cases, it doesn’t matter what the facts are. Followers will resort to mental gymnastics – complete with cognitive flips and contortions – to justify continued support for their candidate.
In fact, when our deepest convictions are challenged by contradictory evidence, we may experience the “backfire effect.”
Coined by Brendan Nyhan and Jason Reifler, the term backfire effect describes how some individuals, when confronted with evidence that conflicts with their beliefs, come to hold their original position even more strongly.
The more ideological and the more emotion-based a belief is, the more likely it is that contrary evidence will be ineffective.
Confirmation bias has become even more prevalent because just about any belief can be “supported” with information found online.
The following techniques may help.
Be open to new information and other perspectives. Don’t be afraid to test or revise your beliefs.
Even if you consider yourself an expert on a topic, approach new information as a beginner would.
Ask someone you trust to play devil’s advocate. Ask them to challenge your assumptions.
Don’t let a limited amount of past experience (particularly one negative experience) carry too much weight. Be sure to envision the future, not just replay the past.
Remind yourself that your intuition is lazy (designed to make predictions quickly, but not always accurately) and does not want to be challenged. Seek and fully evaluate other alternatives before making decisions.
When you believe something strongly, but don’t have recent and compelling evidence to support that belief, look for more information.
Check your ego. If you can’t stand to be wrong, you’re going to continue to fall victim to biases. Learn to value truth rather than the need to be right.
Look for disagreement. If you’re right, then disagreement will help highlight this and if you’re wrong – it will help you identify why.
Ask insightful, open-ended questions. Direct them to people who are not afraid to be honest with you. Be quiet and listen to what they say.
Examine conflicting data. Discuss it with people who disagree with you and evaluate the evidence they present.
Consider all the viewpoints that you can find – not just the ones that support your current beliefs or ideas.
www.jakeshealthsolutions.com/you-cant-handle-the-truth-how-confirmation-bias-distorts-your-opinions-4143