Confirmation bias: How is it in your own mind?

We only see what we want to see! That's the principle of confirmation bias in a nutshell - one of the most insidious psychological phenomena that shapes our opinions, decisions and perception of reality. Why are we so easily convinced of our truth? And most importantly - how to prevent it?

🔍 What is confirmation bias?

Simply put, Confirmation bias is the tendency to favor information that confirms what we already believe and ignore facts that might refute our opinion..

👉 Example? If you believe that coffee is healthy, you will search for articles that confirm this. Studies that say caffeine increases stress or disrupts sleep, but you will move on with the thought: "That's just bullshit!"

This phenomenon is extremely powerful because our brain doesn't like to question their own beliefsWe perceive the world through the filter of our own experiences and emotions, and the stronger our beliefs, the harder it is to accept opposing arguments.

🤔 Why does the brain play the editor-in-chief of our reality?

✔ Evolutionary advantage – The brain is designed to make quick decisions, which was once a matter of survival. Thinking long and hard about whether there was a tiger in the bush was not exactly advantageous. Today, there are no saber-toothed tigers running around the forest, but our minds still filter information in a way that makes our lives easier – unfortunately, often at the expense of the truth.

✔ Comfort – Admitting that we were wrong hurts. It is much easier to ignore opposing arguments than to revise our beliefs.

✔ Social bubbles – We live in our own information bubbles. We only follow sources that agree with us, we only read comments from people with similar opinions. And this then confirms that “we are right”.

✔ Scientific studies – People tend to believe scientific studies that support their opinion and ignore those that contradict it. But scientific studies vary in quality, methodology, and sometimes funding. Verify sources!

❌ 3 most common confirmation bias traps

1️⃣ Social networks and algorithms

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok feed you content that aligns with your interests and opinions. Do you like posts about healthy lifestyles? You'll only get articles about superfoods and cleansing diets, and you'll never come across scientific studies that challenge these trends.

🎭 Solution: Follow sources you disagree with, not to change your mind, but to maintain objectivity.

2️⃣ Political blindness

People tend to seek out information that supports their political views. If you support one party, you will follow media outlets that support that party and dismiss the opposition's arguments as "propaganda."

🎭 Solution: Sometimes, look at the other side's arguments, not necessarily to agree with them, but to understand their logic.

3️⃣ Confirmation effect in science and health

Many people believe that if they see the phrase “studies have shown…” somewhere, it means it’s an indisputable fact. But what studies? Who funded them? How were they conducted? Confirmation bias causes people to believe only those studies that confirm their opinion and ignore others.

🎭 Solution: Learn to read studies critically and always look for sources that are expert and unbiased.

🎯 How to prevent confirmation bias?

✔ Question your own opinions – When you have a strong opinion about something, try playing “devil’s advocate” for yourself. Why would it be otherwise? What arguments are there against my opinion?

✔ Read various sources – Don’t limit yourself to just one type of media. If you read mainstream, look at alternative perspectives. If you only follow “independent” sources, check to see if they are biased.

✔ Get out of the bubble – If you only spend time with people who share your beliefs, try looking into other communities from time to time.

✔ Give yourself time to decide. – If something upsets you, try to wait a moment and check your facts before sharing it. Emotions are the biggest catalyst for confirmation bias.

✔ Watch different generations, music and movies – Are you a woman 50+? Check out groups for younger generations and try to understand their worldview. Do you only love older music? Try listening to something new. Do you like one genre of film? Watch something completely different! Limiting yourself to just one view deprives you of a wide range of interesting perspectives.

🚀 Conclusion: Seek the truth, not confirmation of your opinion

The world is not black and white. If we want to truly understand reality, we must to leave the comfort of one's own truth and open up to other perspectives. While confirmation bias forces us to stay in a comfortable bubble, only those who are not afraid to explore new perspectives can get closer to the real truth.

💬 What about confirmation bias What do you think? Do you have any experience with how it influenced your decision-making? Share it in the comments!