[W]e have an automatic tendency to pay attention to or…
![“[W]e have an automatic tendency to pay attention to or seek out information that is in agreement with (confirms) our preconceptions, and to ignore, distort or avoid information that contradicts (disconfirms) our preconceptions, a tendency that is called the confirmation bias. The confirmation bias…” quote by Wadsworth Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/0c2/wadsworth-publishing-194058_critical-thinking_w-e-have-an-automatic-tendency-to-pay-at_518612.jpg)
““[W]e have an automatic tendency to pay attention to or seek out information that is in agreement with (confirms) our preconceptions, and to ignore, distort or avoid information that contradicts (disconfirms) our preconceptions, a tendency that is called the confirmation bias. The confirmation bias serves to maintain and strengthen the beliefs that we already hold by causing us to automatically (that is, without being aware that we are doing so) perceive and remember experiences that confirm these beliefs, and to ignore or reinterpret those that disconfirm them. Because we tend to seek out only confirming evidence, our beliefs over time become so well confirmed in our minds that we come to think of them as “obviously true." In order to avoid the confirmation bias, we must force ourselves to look for evidence that disconfirms our beliefs.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Confirmation bias makes us favor info that fits beliefs, ignoring contradictory evidence; we must seek disconfirming data.
In simple terms: Bias leads to selective perception; seek opposing evidence.
Key Takeaway
Actively challenge your assumptions.
Themes
cognitive bias
critical thinking
beliefs
information
self‑awareness
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
educational
analytical
When to use this quote
- research
- decision making
- media consumption
Key Concepts
psychology
epistemology
media literacy
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you detect your own bias?
- What steps ensure balanced information?
A Different Perspective
Bias can be subconscious and hard to notice.