Confirmation Bias and Its Impact on Beliefs

Confirmation bias is the tendency for humans to seek evidence that supports their beliefs while disregarding contradictory evidence. It is a crucial ingredient in self-delusion and motivated reasoning, often leading to maintaining outdated beliefs. This bias is pervasive and easily reinforced in the age of easily accessible information. Confirmation bias is particularly evident in cases where people seek evidence to support their beliefs instead of seeking disconfirmation. It plays a significant role in shaping our perception of reality and can make it challenging to change deeply held beliefs.