The confirmation bias is the tendency to listen more often to information that confirms our existing beliefs. Through this bias, people tend to favor information that reinforces the things they already think or believe.
Examples include:
- Only paying attention to information that confirms your beliefs about issues such as gun control and global warming
- Only following people on social media who share your viewpoints
- Choosing news sources that present stories that support your views
- Refusing to listen to the opposing side
- Not considering all of the facts in a logical and rational manner
There are a few reasons why this happens. One is that only seeking to confirm existing opinions helps limit mental resources we need to use to make decisions. It also helps protect self-esteem by making people feel that their beliefs are accurate.
People on two sides of an issue can listen to the same story and walk away with different interpretations that they feel validates their existing point of view. This is often indicative that the confirmation bias is working to “bias” their opinions.
Confirmation bias can lead to poor decision-making in various contexts, such as research, politics, and health.