Weekly Insights: Addressing Confirmation Bias...

Everyone likes being right. People naturally want to "win" a discussion, an argument, or any topic of debate. In the same regard, if there is a truth that we want to get behind, then we can easily find the support to back us on it. As we know, there are both truths and conspiracies flooding the web, and therefore any topic will have someone backing it as a fact even if it is untrue. Confirmation Bias is when we look for the evidence that confirms either our current values, or what we already strongly believe to be true. It is a type of cognitive distortion, because in this process we are ignoring any facts that disprove our beliefs. Not only do we seek to find what supports our own thoughts, but we tend to not use the same criteria to look at our own actions. For example, sometimes we see someone doing something wrong and jump to the worst conclusions of why they did it instead of investigating deeper on why it may have happened. However, when we do that same thing, we seem to think our reasons for doing it can excuse the behavior without question. The double standard is used in this case, and it can have a significant affect on our choices and important decisions. How do we address this bias in ourselves and in our society?

First, let's look into the why. Other than wanting to be "right", why do people act this way? Sometimes it is an easy out for the overconfident person with no information or knowledge on the topic at hand. They have nothing to lose, and their confidence outweighs their ability to see how far off or wrong they really are. We can see this in our world when the overqualified person has low confidence and therefore energetically allows the less skilled person to dominate and take over. Perhaps there is little to no self-awareness at play as well. Someone overqualified oftentimes underscores their own abilities because of their humility and belief that their gifts are not that special. They don't always see themselves for the talents they possess. There are other people who avoid receiving feedback or having conversations that challenge their beliefs. Instead of dealing with certain truths, they avoid the truth completely. This is also a type of Confirmation Bias. This can happen between two friends, but it can also happen at the highest levels of scientific research. Some scientists that have been studying a certain theory their whole lives might look the other way when the facts didn't line up with their desired results.

The mind is a very powerful thing, and by selectively digesting information this way, we can convince ourselves that we are right. There can be inconsistencies, inaccuracies, or completely dishonest conclusions, but as long as it confirms one's beliefs, it is processed as the truth in the mind. This type of self-deception can be dangerous when applied on a larger scale. Looking back at our human history, Confirmation Bias has fed the regimes of some of the most tyrannical people. So how do we address this?

To begin with, we have to understand ourselves and how we think. The beliefs we hold are deep inside of us. They represent what we have learned to identify with through the various experiences and life lessons we have had over the years. We get a sense of security from having these core beliefs, and they make us feel safe and connected to something bigger than ourselves. Our beliefs occupy the mind, but they also weave through our emotions and feelings. We tend to come together in societal groups to share these beliefs, and we separate ourselves from one another because of them as well. Sometimes these beliefs are attached to a greater cause, a spiritual attachment, or a caregiving situation where there is security and comfort that can influence us subconsciously. This can add a whole other level of Confirmation Bias. Fear can also be a strong force that causes us to sway one way or the other in our beliefs. We might even share these biases with family members, spouses, or social communities that confirm our beliefs and keep us sheltered from anything different from them.

Once we are aware of the signs that Confirmation Bias may be manifesting, we have to be able to be honest with ourselves. Can we see who we really are and identify the areas where we hold a bias? Are we open to learning a different perspective? Can we have discussions with people who oppose these beliefs? Would we ever be willing to shift our beliefs because of new information that proves otherwise? If the answers are yes, then we are capable of overcoming Confirmation Bias, but if the answers are no, then we are not interested in the truth. It really can be difficult to break the mold of bias once it is formed. We have to be open to change, and we must be humble enough to look at things from an honest perspective. The truth, again, sets us free. It is vital that we seek objective facts and pay attention long enough to take in the whole story and the bigger picture. Neutrality is the answer to bias. When we can pull our emotions out of the situation and pay attention to the information available from all sides involved, then we become open to the middle ground. The truth lives in the center of two extremes. May each of us be blessed to seek the truth and accept it, no matter what our biases may be. It is a gift to practice patience to discover all sides of the coin instead of running toward a conclusion that affirms our core beliefs.