Confirmation Bias - Your Brain Finding Evidence for Your Beliefs

Confirmation bias – your brain finding evidence for what you already believe in

What is confirmation bias?

Confirmation bias is the tendency to look for, interpret, and recall information that is consistent with one’s existing beliefs. Hence, this bias has three components:

Biased attention
Biased interpretation
Biased memory

Confirmation bias leads one to ignore anything that might disconfirm their expectations or predictions. It usually happens for matters and in situations that are important to the person and relevant to their sense of self.

It might be helpful to see this bias as a tree. On the one hand, the branches are the information you gather over time about a specific person, object, or situation. On the other hand, the tree (bark) is your initial belief. All branches are connected to the tree the same way all information is connected to and feeds on your core belief. Taking into account information that refutes your existing belief is almost like cutting off a branch from the original tree. The process is painful and not as easy as it may seem.

Why do we have it?

Confirmation bias is only one of the many biases humans have and which often go unnoticed. How a person views and understands the world tends to be affected by their beliefs and cultural norms. This means that it’s more difficult to think rationally of a situation once you have developed a strong opinion or belief about it.

Nevertheless, confirmation bias is not totally negative. Like many biases, they help you process and understand information fast and more efficiently. Biases were (and still are) adaptive in many ways. By relying on instinctive (less rational) behaviors, they helped us avoid danger in the past and survive.

Another reason why people have confirmation bias is to be correct, hence to protect their self-esteem. However, in some cases, people may use confirmation bias to support or reinforce negative beliefs about self and others. In these situations, self-esteem is likely to decrease rather than increase. In addition, information that disproves negative beliefs about self and others might be considered irrelevant or unimportant.

For example, if you believe that people don’t like you, you will always (unconsciously) look for and interpret information that supports that belief. You may even interpret neutral information as negative. What’s more, you will be more likely to recall past instances where you felt “unlikeable” than instances where you thought people liked you.

In which situations does confirmation bias occur?

Confirmation bias might be particularly explicit in relationships, when forming first impressions. Imagine you are told what to expect from meeting someone. When you end up meeting that person for the first time, you will be more likely to look for – and find – evidence that supports what you’ve been told. You will also be more likely to interpret anything the person does or says in a way that is consistent with your original expectation.

Confirmation bias is just as evident in medical settings, when making diagnoses. Doctors are shown to be prone to making a diagnosis at the very beginning of a visit. This early conclusion then interferes with their ability to assess information that may suggest an alternative (perhaps more accurate) diagnosis.

What can you do about it?

There are different ways you can try to overcome confirmation bias:

1. Be aware of the signs that you may be falling for it

These signs include:

seeking out or remembering information that confirms your ideas and ignoring all other information
relying on stereotypes
having strong emotional reactions only to information that is in line with your beliefs

2. Consider all evidence

Take an “out of the box” stance. Do not just consider evidence that confirms what you believe in. Look beyond. See if you’ve missed some evidence along the way that might disconfirm what your belief is telling you.

3. Seek out different perspectives

Especially from people who come from different backgrounds and have opposing views.

4. Be willing to change your mind

Be open to new ideas, especially in light of new evidence.

Remember that your current beliefs shape your current reality. Therefore, in order to change your reality, you need to have a closer look at what your underlying (limiting) beliefs are. Once you’ve done that, align your beliefs with the vision of the person you want to become – your future self. Just know that it’s going to take some intentional work and effort in trying to change your focus and beliefs.

You might also feel some discomfort when confronted with evidence supporting your new beliefs. Despite the discomfort, keep going. With time, the uncomfortable feelings will fade away as your new beliefs fully develop and there is more evidence supporting them. Discomfort is actually normal and is part of growth. It mainly comes from your mind having a stronger preference for what’s familiar than what’s unfamiliar. This is because the familiar feels safe and therefore comfortable, whereas the unfamiliar is new and scary, which leads to discomfort.

Moreover, the evidence for your new beliefs will be at odds with your previous beliefs, which will make acceptance of the new evidence harder. Indeed, your brain will resist it or even dismiss it. For instance, if your initial (core) belief is “I’m unlikeable”, when someone comes up to you and says “I enjoy spending time with you”, you might not believe them! This is your brain trying to redirect you towards what’s familiar and in line with your old belief. But don’t go there.

Takeaways

Understanding that humans are flawed and are subject to biases, is the first step in changing your thinking and the way you perceive the world.

People may be overconfident about what they believe in – including what they believe about themselves – because, over time, they accumulate a great deal of evidence that supports their beliefs. Simultaneously, they may neglect or overlook important information that disconfirms what they believe in. Hence, even when all information seems to align with your beliefs, rest assured that there is just as much evidence proving that what you believe in is not true.

Becoming aware of your biases – particularly your confirmation bias – will help you become more open-minded, accepting, and rational in many areas of life. In addition, this awareness will help you better understand others and why they behave the way they do. Lastly, understanding confirmation bias is key if you want to show up differently than how you are currently showing up. Knowing about it, you can redirect your bias to beliefs that serve you well and that don’t keep you stuck in old patterns that limit your potential.

Remember that “evidence does not support your belief; it was created by your belief.” Therefore, identify that one belief you want to change, and repeatedly and intentionally seek evidence that supports your new belief. Most importantly, even when it gets hard and uncomfortable, don’t give up! Know that feelings are temporary, and that it takes time to rewire your brain – especially when your self-identity is involved.