Conformation Bias

Notes

Claim

Conformation bias is when we implement a double standard between two bits of information depending on whether the information matches our existing beliefs or not. If it does, we tend to accept it without any criticism or verification Examining ideas rigorously before accepting them as true, while information that goes against our beliefs is held to a more robust method of examination, or even ignoring immediately.

Explanation

The more extreme version of conformation bias is when we only search for information that matches our beliefs in the first place, without listening to competing viewpoints Experimentation. Conformation bias creates a Harmful actions reinforce themselves through self-perpetuating feedback loops of Overestimating abilities blinds us to genuine risks because if all the information we encounter says we are correct, then we must be very smart, forgetting the fact that it is us who chose to only check information that agrees with us.

Why it matters

Avoiding conformation bias is very difficult because we are lead astray by our own Gut Feelings, so how can we know that we are making a mistake? It takes Self-awareness reveals mental and emotional states enabling intentional action and Humility is acknowledging limits of knowledge and fallibility to successfully search and embrace knowledge that contradicts our beliefs, or even acknowledging that we could be wrong.

The best solution would be to practice Separating actions from identity allows growth, to treat our beliefs as the belief of another, and approach knowledge of any kind with Curiosity is the joy of filling knowledge gaps

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Overview

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