{"id":637,"date":"2024-08-13T10:49:46","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T10:49:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elenasdiscoverycoaching.com\/CoachingWebsite\/?page_id=637"},"modified":"2024-09-05T13:06:51","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T13:06:51","slug":"confirmation-bias","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.elenasdiscoverycoaching.com\/?page_id=637","title":{"rendered":"Post – confirmation bias"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Confirmation bias – your brain finding evidence for what you already believe in<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is confirmation bias?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Confirmation bias<\/strong> is the tendency to look for, interpret<\/strong>, and recall information<\/strong> that is consistent with one\u2019s existing beliefs<\/strong>. Hence, this bias<\/strong> has three<\/a> components:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Biased attention<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Biased interpretation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Biased memory<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Confirmation bias<\/strong> leads one to ignore anything that might disconfirm<\/a> their expectations or predictions. It usually happens for matters and in situations that are important to the person and relevant<\/a> to their sense of self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Why do we have it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Confirmation bias<\/strong> is only one of the many biases<\/strong> humans have and which often go unnoticed. How a person views and understands<\/a> the world tends to be affected by their beliefs<\/strong> and cultural norms. This means that it\u2019s more difficult to think rationally of a situation once you have developed a strong opinion or belief<\/strong> about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

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

    For example, if you believe that people don\u2019t like you, you will always (unconsciously) look for and interpret information<\/strong> that supports that belief<\/strong>. You may even interpret<\/strong> neutral information<\/strong> as negative. What\u2019s more, you will be more likely to recall past instances where you felt \u201cunlikeable<\/a>\u201d than instances where you thought people liked you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In which situations does confirmation bias occur?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Confirmation bias<\/strong> might be particularly explicit in relationships, when forming first impressions<\/a>. 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<\/a> what you\u2019ve been told. You will also be more likely to interpret<\/strong> anything the person does or says in a way that is consistent with your original expectation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Confirmation bias<\/strong> is just as evident in medical settings, when making diagnoses<\/a>. 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<\/a> information<\/strong> that may suggest an alternative<\/a> (perhaps more accurate) diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What can you do about it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    There are different ways you can try to overcome<\/a> confirmation bias<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Be aware of the signs that you may be falling for it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    These signs<\/a> include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n