Legal Definitions - confirmation bias

Confirmation bias refers to the human tendency to interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses.

Essentially, it means people are more likely to seek out information that supports what they already think is true, and to disregard or downplay information that contradicts their views. This cognitive shortcut can influence decision-making by making individuals less open to new perspectives or evidence that challenges their initial conclusions.

• Imagine a person who is convinced that a particular stock is a great investment. They might spend hours researching the company, but primarily focus on articles and analyst reports that praise its performance and future prospects. They might quickly dismiss any negative news or warnings from financial experts as temporary setbacks or biased opinions, reinforcing their initial belief that the stock is a good buy.

  This illustrates confirmation bias because the individual actively seeks out information that supports their desired investment outcome and downplays or ignores contradictory evidence.

• Consider a manager who believes a specific employee is underperforming. When observing that employee, the manager might pay closer attention to instances where the employee makes mistakes or seems disengaged, while overlooking or quickly forgetting times when the employee performs well or contributes positively. This selective attention reinforces the manager's initial negative assessment.

  This example demonstrates confirmation bias as the manager's pre-existing belief about the employee's performance leads them to selectively notice and remember information that confirms that belief, while discounting evidence to the contrary.

• Think about a group of friends discussing a controversial social issue. If one friend holds a strong opinion on the matter, they might share news articles or social media posts that align with their viewpoint, citing them as definitive proof. They might also be quick to challenge or discredit any facts or arguments presented by others that contradict their stance, viewing them as misinformed or biased, even if the opposing information is credible.

  Here, confirmation bias is at play because the individual prioritizes and gives more weight to information that supports their existing social belief, while actively resisting or dismissing information that challenges it.