Confirmation bias
The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that supports what we already believe. Evidence against our view gets ignored, explained away, or forgotten.
In everyday life
Someone convinced a diet works remembers the success stories and skims past the reviews saying it didn't help.
Sure your new coworker is lazy, you take note of every long coffee break they take and never register the evenings they stay late.
Why your mind does this
Holding steady beliefs lets us act without rethinking everything each time. Favoring information that fits what we already know is fast, protects our sense of being right, and keeps our picture of the world stable and coherent.
How to spot it
Ask yourself when you last looked for, or took seriously, evidence that you might be wrong about this.
How to counter it
Search on purpose for the strongest evidence against your view, and give it the same attention you give evidence for it.
Habits that catch it
- Argue the other side
Before you commit, write the strongest case against your view. If you can't, you don't know the question well enough yet.
Same family: Confirms beliefs
SourcesNickerson (1998)·Wikipedia