People’s preferences influence not only the kind of…
““People’s preferences influence not only the kind of information they consider, but also the amount they examine. When the initial evidence supports our preferences, we are generally satisfied and terminate our search; when the initial evidence is hostile, however, we often dig deeper, hoping to find more comforting information, or to uncover reasons to believe that the original evidence was flawed. By taking advantage of “optional stopping” in this way, we dramatically increase our chances of finding satisfactory support for what we wish to be true.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People favor information that confirms their preferences, stopping early when it aligns and digging deeper when it conflicts, to support desired beliefs.
In simple terms: We seek confirming evidence and avoid contradictory data.
Key Takeaway
Beware confirmation bias and optional stopping.
Themes
cognitive bias
information processing
decision making
Mood
analytical
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research design
- news consumption
- political discourse
- personal decision making
Key Concepts
confirmation bias
motiv stopping
motivated reasoning
Questions to Reflect On
- How does your initial reaction to evidence shape your conclusions?
- Do you ever seek out opposing viewpoints?
A Different Perspective
May overlook valuable contradictory evidence.