What_is_confirmation_bias_-with Questions

In this article from Psychology Today, the author discusses confirmation bias, which can lead people to ignore or misinterpret evidence in the world around them. As you read the text, take notes on what confirmation bias is and what individuals can do to combat it. Name: Class: 1 What is Confirmation Bias? By Shahram Heshmat, Ph.D. 2015 [1] Imagine that you have tried to reach a friend with whom you have an ambivalent 1 relationship by phone or email, leaving messages, yet receiving no call in return. In a situation like this, it is easy to jump to conclusions in an intuitive 2 manner that your friend wants to avoid you. The danger, of course, is that you leave this belief unchecked and start to act as though it were true. Confirmation bias occurs from the direct influence of desire on beliefs. When people would like a certain idea or concept to be true, they end up believing it to be true. They are motivated by wishful thinking. This "Lost in the maze" by Burst is licensed under CC0. error leads the individual to stop gathering information when the evidence gathered so far confirms the views or prejudices one would like to be true. Once we have formed a view, we embrace information that confirms that view while ignoring, or rejecting, information that casts doubt on it. Confirmation bias suggests that we don’t perceive 3 circumstances objectively. 4 We pick out those bits of data that make us feel good because they confirm our prejudices. Thus, we may become prisoners of our assumptions. Confirmation bias can also be found in anxious individuals, who view the world as dangerous. For example, a person with low self-esteem is highly sensitive to being ignored by other people, and they constantly monitor for signs that people might not like them. Thus, if you are worried that someone is annoyed with you, you are biased toward all the negative information about how that person acts toward you. You interpret neutral behavior as indicative of something negative. [5] Wishful thinking is a form of self-deception, 5 such as false optimism. 6 For example, we often deceive ourselves, 1. Ambivalent (adjective) feeling uncertain due to conflicting emotions 2. Intuitive (adjective) perceived through intuition, or a strong internal sense 3. to become aware of

Name: Class: 2 4. in a way that isn’t determined by feelings or prejudices

such as stating: just this one; it’s not that fattening; I’ll stop smoking tomorrow. Or when someone is “under the 3 12. a set of strongly-held beliefs

3 Text-Dependent Questions Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences. 1. What is the central idea of the article? A. Individuals collect evidence to confirm their beliefs even when they are untrue. B. Confirmation bias explains how individuals lie to themselves and their loved ones even though they care deeply about them. C. Confirmation bias explains how individuals ignore evidence that doesn't fit their beliefs, but there are ways to actively combat it. D. Individuals should work hard to fight against confirmation bias because it prevents them from making good decisions and treating people fairly. 2. Why does the author compare self-deception to a drug in paragraph 6? A. to show that drugs and self-deception are harmful to relationships B. to show that drugs and self-deception can cause someone to ignore reality C. to show that drugs and self-deception are both problems that can be solved D. to show that drugs and self-deception are behaviors that are difficult to stop 3. What solution does the author offer for confirmation bias? A. The author states that group decision making is the only answer. B. The author claims that there is no solution, because confirmation bias is a natural human behavior. C. The author recommends that individuals should not be influenced by people who disagree with them. D. The author suggests that individuals should seek evidence and other perspectives that challenge their beliefs. 4. Which piece of evidence from the text supports the idea that confirmation bias can interfere with relationships? A. " You interpret neutral behavior as indicative of something negative." (paragraph 4) B. "In sum, people are prone to believe what they want to believe. " (paragraph 7) C. "The take-home lesson here is to set your hypothesis and look for instances to prove that you are wrong." (paragraph 8) D. "The goal is to prevent unbiased witnesses from influencing each other." (paragraph 9)

5 Discussion Questions Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in the space provided. Be prepared to share your original ideas in a class discussion. 1. How does confirmation bias affect our judgment? How does it hinder our ability to understand the world around us? 2. The author mentions that we can combat confirmation bias by looking for evidence and perspectives that contradict our own beliefs. Do you think that this is something that all people can learn how to do? What actions can people take to combat confirmation bias in their daily lives?