Bias Quote by John Dolan
““How often – I continue reflecting – is it that we see what we want to see, rather than what is really before our eyes. In the trade we call this confirmation bias, and our brains are riddled with it. We take a position on something and thereafter only see whatever confirms that position, ignoring all evidence to the contrary.””
About This Quote
The quote describes confirmation bias as seeing what we want rather than reality, noting its pervasive effect on perception.
In simple terms: We often notice only what confirms our beliefs, ignoring contrary evidence.
Key Takeaway
Challenge personal biases by seeking opposing viewpoints.
Themes
cognition
bias
perception
critical thinking
psychology
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
psychological
educational
When to use this quote
- decision making
- research
- media consumption
- debate
Key Concepts
confirmation bias
cognitive distortion
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we train ourselves to notice disconfirming evidence?
- What role does humility play in reducing bias?
A Different Perspective
May lack strategies to overcome bias.
![“What is the danger in the personalization era? Psychologists call it confirmation bias—“a tendency to believe things that reinforce our existing views, to see what we want to see.”[53] What happens when we encounter new information that contradicts our beliefs? Researchers at Stanford monitored…” quote by Craig Detweiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/692/craig-detweiler-19935_cognitive-dissonance_what-is-the-danger-in-the-personalizatio_1556072.jpg)
