Steer Clear of Confirmation Bias in Your Decision-Making
In a world brimming with information and choices, our brains are hardwired to seek shortcuts for speedy decision-making. But be careful, for hidden beneath this well-intended way of thinking lurks a sneaky enemy known as confirmation bias. It can influence our judgments and perceptions without us even realizing it.
"Believing is seeing. Once we have a belief, we see the information that will confirm that belief and we stop seeing what we don't want to see. We want to see the evidence that confirms our beliefs and we want to forget anything that is dissonant or discrepant.” — Dr. Carol Tavris
What is Confirmation Bias?
Confirmation bias is the tendency to look for information that supports, rather than rejects, one's perceptions, typically by interpreting evidence to confirm existing beliefs while rejecting or ignoring any conflicting data. (American Psychological Association).
Confirmation biases play a significant role in how we gather, interpret, and recall information. They are an inherent part of human nature, affecting even the most open-minded individuals who strive to base their conclusions solely on facts.
The truth is, we all have confirmation bias working behind the scenes, shaping our opinions in subtle ways. It's challenging to combat this natural inclination, as our brains tend to seek out information that aligns with our existing beliefs, while disregarding contradictory evidence.
Is Confirmation Bias Fairly Common?
Yes, confirmation bias can happen to everyone. Confirmation bias is the tendency to register in your mind a behavior, an item, or some kind of information that reaffirms a person’s original beliefs.
For example if a person is looking to change jobs they might suddenly realize there are lots of places hiring - through online advertisements, bulletin boards, flyers in the mailbox, hearing of news that there are firms hiring.
Another example would be if a person is going through a breakup, they may be suddenly drawn to listen to really sad songs, notice that “conveniently” there are many shows related to romance and heartaches, they may even start to hear of acquaintances’ stories of people who just went through a breakup.
What Causes Confirmation Bias?
The region of our brain responsible for confirmation bias is known as the reticular activating system, RAS. The RAS’s role in our lives is to keep our focus on what is emotionally important to us. It helps us narrow our focus to that which confirms our beliefs, our values, our goals.
Say a first time mom may be highly keen and interested in learning the best ways to take care of her child, how to clean after her child, what words to say and not to say to their young infant. The brain is then sent a signal that helps the mom keep a lookout for the important information - ways to care for my baby. What was once a “random” flier or a “shop not for me” would now catch the attention of this first time mom.
Having the reticular activating system helps us filter out things which are important to us which may not be important to another. In this case an advertisement for prenatal yoga will not catch the attention of an entrepreneur but would catch the attention of a first time mom. An advertisement for a workshop for online social media marketing would slip off the first time mom’s radar (and probably end up in “trash”) but would be “starred” by the entrepreneur.
How can Confirmation Bias Affect Your Work, Relationships, or Decision-Making?
Because the mind follows the instructions we give it, when we place all our focus, attention on a certain belief, confirmation bias will influence the way we think, and behave.
In terms of decision making, you’ll make a quick decision because it feels right to you as it’s aligned with your belief system.
How Can This Bias Impact Your Mental Health?
The bias can impact your mental health if you have a strong belief on an idea that doesn’t support or favor you. An example will be believing that “ice cream or junk foods bring me happiness and are my comfort food”. This is a contradictory belief many people have and they feel a tug or feel guilty when they put themselves on a diet to find themselves failing.
This is so because the mind can never hold conflicting thoughts. And the stronger our efforts are, the more difficult it is to make change.
If you’re consciously wanting to go on a diet, restricting your meals but deep inside you know “that 1 small cup of ice cream wont harm me much, right?”, the mind gets confused and it (because of confirmation bias) will drive you towards your subconscious pattern. This means it will drive you to commit actions that are aligned with your strong belief that an ice cream will make you feel better after a long day at work.
The end result: you feel guilty for taking that ice cream for supper.
What Steps Can You Take to Recognize and Address this Bias in Yourself?
Notice Bias Without Judgment. The first step to any change is to notice the bias without judgment. Oftentimes we are so hard on ourselves that we stop ourselves from true change and transformation. Noticing the bias and being curious, looking at it with fascination is the first step to addressing the bias.
Question Your Belief. Next, would be to question it: “How did I get this belief? Why do I believe in it so much? Is this really true?” When you question a belief it loses its power to hold true. You start to create a new trigger and alert and now your confirmation bias will work with you and get your attention to the information that shows you why your original belief is not the whole truth.
How can a Mental Health Professional Help You Recognize and Overcome Your Biases?
A professional outside of you is able to see the patterns of thoughts and action you engage in and help you break out of unhelpful patterns. Every thought we think sends a signal to the mind and body which affects the way we behave and the way we feel about certain situations.
A friend who is unapologetically honest may also help you see the pattern. However in most friendships there may be resistance to pointing out your best friends’ negative patterns hence having a mental health professional, someone experienced working with people to break unhealthy patterns and form newer healthier habits of thoughts and action will be helpful.
Do you often feel trapped in the cycle of confirmation bias? A powerful solution is right before your eyes – Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT). This innovative therapeutic approach delves deep into your subconscious mind, untangling the roots of confirmation bias and empowering you to break free from its grip.
Ready to liberate yourself from the clutches of confirmation bias? You can seek the help Carina, certified RTT practitioner by booking your RTT session today. Say goodbye to the limitations of biased thinking and hello to a world of clarity and empathy.
Take the first step towards a more liberated mind! https://emergedbutterfly.com/application **limited slots each month, enquire for availability.
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