Nobody likes being wrong, least of all me. However, I recognize that I make mistakes, something that other people aren’t able to do. At least, they don’t want to listen to what doesn’t go their way, and that’s called confirmation bias. I’m going to explain why this is a problem and why we need to be open-minded. It’s important to be aware of confirmation bias if you want to be a better person. Yes, yes, really!
Confirmation bias is a cognitive distortion that’s often mistrusted. So what is it? It’s a bias that causes our brains to sort through the information it receives to keep only what’s consistent with what we already think 🧠. Basically, we only retain what suits us so as not to offend our ego or our convictions.
Psychologist Peter Wason discovered this defense mechanism in the 60s through an experiment. He asked participants to guess the rule in a sequence of numbers. Most looked for an example proving that they were right, when they didn’t have the real rule 😬.
“Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out, interpret, favor and recall information in a way that confirms your own beliefs or assumptions.” - Scott Plous
But why do we do this? According to psychologist Raymond Nickerson, confirmation bias is a flaw of convenience. Yes, we want to stay in our comfort zone rather than question ourselves. It’s better for our ego and our beliefs. To help you understand, I’ll give you an example:
An example of confirmation bias During the pandemic, conspiracy theories exploded. A lot of false information circulated, in particular, that the virus had been created in a laboratory and that vaccines were dangerous. Many people believed this, rather than the scientific studies that proved the opposite. |
Conspiracy theorists cling to erroneous beliefs because it gives meaning to their lives. They feel they’re above the rest by saying that they’re not like the masses, and they find a whole load of “information” that suits them. In short, they have a huge confirmation bias 😅!
I think you can guess the main problem with confirmation bias is that it locks us into OUR view of things 🔒. We become closed off to anything that might make us change our mind, even if it’s relevant and well-founded. The result 🤔? We sink deeper into our certainties, become dogmatic, and miss out on opportunities to evolve and learn... And even worse.
In human terms, you become a toxic person, never really listening to others. Everything people say falls on deaf ears, and you don’t question what you know. This is all the more true if you’re very privileged in life, as psychologist Jennifer Freyd explains. We oppress minorities and as a result, we don’t show open-mindedness and flexibility, qualities that are fundamental to healthy relationships and being a caring person.
👋 You may be interested in this article: Why is kindness such a valuable life skill?
Okay, I know it’s going to sound cliché, but I promise you there’s a way not to become a conspiracist... er I mean avoid your confirmation bias 🤐. Okay, I’ll stop bashing conspiracy fanatics, I know that deep down, we’re all affected by cognitive bias. So how do we avoid it? Here are a few tips:
Indeed, you need to be reflexively skeptical, as psychologist Scott Lilienfeld puts it. You need to be willing to question your own beliefs and consider alternatives. Yes, I know it’s not easy to deconstruct yourself. But you mustn’t be afraid to open up to perspectives that are different from your own 😉!
Editor’s note: Dare to question what you think you knowConfirmation bias isn’t just a nasty flaw, it can really hold back your personal development and relationships. If you recognize yourself in this portrait and would like to explore the mechanisms of your thinking more deeply, don’t hesitate to see a psychologist. A professional can help you deconstruct your prejudices and open your mind, enabling you to live a more fulfilled and authentic life. The key to a richer, more conscious life could well lie in this approach. Take care of yourself and dare to question what you think you know. Your mind will thank you! 🤗 Understanding yourself, accepting yourself, being happy... It’s here and now! #BornToBeMe |
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