What is confirmation bias?

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency for individuals to favor information that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses, while giving disproportionately less consideration to alternative viewpoints or contradictory evidence. This cognitive bias manifests in how people seek out information, interpret it, and remember it.

In the context of decision-making or evaluating evidence, confirmation bias can lead individuals to dismiss relevant facts that challenge their preconceptions. For example, when presented with statistical data or studies, a person exhibiting confirmation bias may selectively focus on those that support their viewpoint and ignore those that do not.

Recognizing confirmation bias is important in various fields, including art interpretation, where viewers may perceive and judge artworks based on preconceived notions rather than a neutral evaluation of the art itself. This awareness can help foster a more comprehensive understanding by encouraging openness to diverse perspectives and interpretations.

The other choices describe different cognitive processes or contexts that do not specifically address the essential attribute of confirmation bias, which is the strength of adhering to one's existing beliefs in the face of contradicting evidence.