QUESTION 25
Fantasia believes that people with blue eyes are somehow more creative than other people. Whenever Fantasia encounters a person that has blue eyes and is creative, she places greater importance on this evidence supporting her already existing belfef. At the same time, Fantasia ignores any evidence that people without blue eyes might display exceptional creativity. This is called a(n)
confirmation bias
availability heuristic
representativeness bias
self-fulfilling prophecy
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is confirmation bias.
Explanation:
Confirmation bias refers to the tendency for individuals to favor information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses while ignoring or discounting evidence that contradicts them. This cognitive bias leads people to process information selectively, which reinforces their existing ideas and opinions.
In the case of Fantasia, her belief is that people with blue eyes are more creative than others. When she encounters someone with blue eyes who displays creativity, she assigns more weight to this evidence because it aligns with her preconceived notion. Conversely, she disregards or minimizes instances of creative individuals who do not have blue eyes, even though such evidence could challenge her belief. This selective attention to confirmatory evidence and neglect of contradictory evidence is the hallmark of confirmation bias.
Broader Context:
- Why Confirmation Bias Occurs:
- People tend to seek coherence and stability in their beliefs. Challenging these beliefs requires cognitive effort and can lead to discomfort or cognitive dissonance, which individuals often try to avoid.
- Real-World Implications:
- In scientific research, confirmation bias can lead to flawed conclusions if researchers only focus on data supporting their hypotheses.
- In social interactions, it can perpetuate stereotypes and prejudices, as seen in Fantasia’s case.
- How to Counteract Confirmation Bias:
- Actively seek out evidence that challenges your beliefs.
- Consider alternative explanations and perspectives.
- Engage in critical thinking and use objective criteria to evaluate information.
Fantasia’s behavior exemplifies how confirmation bias can distort judgment, leading to an inaccurate or incomplete understanding of reality. By only paying attention to evidence that aligns with her belief, she fails to see the broader, more nuanced picture of creativity.