Always seek out and listen very carefully to negative feedback

After reading this article, you’ll learn:

1. What is the confirmation bias.

2. Why you should know about it.

3. How you can use this concept to be a better thinker.

A bias is an error in thinking. e.g. an unconscious tendency to favour one person / thing / idea over another.

Confirmation bias happens when we favour information confirming our existing beliefs, by selectively ignoring information which challenges our beliefs.

Simple example may be:

• Believing that climate change isn’t caused by humans. So I’ll read articles which support this, and declare everything else is “misinformation”.

• Supporting a politician strongly. So I’ll be a part of groups where he/ she is worshipped, and will declare all other views as “propaganda”.

• Believing people from one country / state / religion are evil. So I consume news which validates the same and reject everything else as “fake news”.

In short, confirmation bias shapes the way we see the world. This is extremely powerful and can be dangerous too.

But why should you know about this?

1. Our thinking = the shape of our life.

When we are confronted with unfamiliar or new situations, a bias helps us to draw fast conclusions. If every encounter with a stranger would require us to think of all sorts of possible outcomes, we would freeze.

e.g. when our ancestors confronted a wild animal, they knew they had to run. Those who didn’t, became the prey and didn’t survive.

So, we evolved with biases to operate in an efficient way. But, how is it possible to think differently if everything you see goes through the same set of assumptions and biases?

Unless we challenge our thinking and expand our world view, we will stumble through life making the same mistakes and wonder why nothing’s changing.

2. To become a better learner.

   In this old interview, the interviewer asks Elon Musk, “What is the one piece of advice that you would always recommend to an entrepreneur“?

   Elon Musk gives a surprising answer :

He makes a really important point here. The wisdom hidden in this message is, there can be one fact / idea which you’ve avoided till now, and which can change your thinking. And this will not happen if you’re consumed by the confirmation bias.

A historical example which comes to mind is the Geocentric theory versus Heliocentric theory. For ages, the Earth was said to be the center of the solar system and the sun, along with all other planets were said to go around the Earth.

When astronomers began to observe unexplained behaviour which this model didn’t explain, they suggested that the Sun was at the center of the Solar system and all other planets, including Earth rotated around it.

Of course, people weren’t happy with them as this was completely against their world view. These astronomers were arrested and branded as heretics 🤔 

3. To seek high - quality information

Today, the amount of content generated is much higher than what can be consumed. When I came across this graph, my mind was blown.

If we’re not careful and if we allow random sources to pollute our minds with junk information, we’re doomed.

Social media companies and news organizations weaponize information to make profits. When you spend more and more time in Fb, Instagram, Twitter etc., they make money off advertisements. It’s easy to get lost in a sea of hate speech and junk information.

When you’re aware of confirmation bias, you become an objective thinker. You consciously seek out both sides of the argument. Your view of the world is based on data and facts.

How you can use this knowledge to your advantage:

1. Diversify information sources.

All social media algorithms work in the same way - they recommend more and more of what you’ve consumed already. i.e. they understand your tastes and interests, and present content which matches the same.

This is a dangerous trend and can trap us in our echo - chambers. The solution here is to understand the other side of the argument. e.g. if people are praising a politician who I dislike, what are the reasons? Are the reasons based on facts or mere assumptions and feelings?

2. Question your assumptions.

If I believe that climate change is a scam, what is the reason? Is it because people around me believe this? Is it because an influential person announced it?

Beware of this - just because you were exposed to this information, it does not mean that’s the truth.

3. Embrace discomfort.

We hate to be proved wrong. But many times, we have to unlearn to grow. And this doesn’t feel comfortable. e.g. conversations with people who hold different beliefs.

But, it is worth doing the right thing, rather than be a people - pleaser.

4. Fact - check and verify.

In this era of fake news, it is super - important to not blindly accept what you hear, or what a forwarded message might claim. The first step is to get out of such groups which spread disinformation.

The world is more polarized than ever, and hatred is on the rise. Hundreds of deaths have occurred because of this. So please put the effort to be a clear thinker.

Make sure that you consume content from high - quality sources, and ignore clickbait and “breaking news” which runs 24 × 7 these days.

5. Seek feedback.

Those closest to us are in the best position to provide us with feedback about our shortcomings. The best friends are those who tell us where we’re wrong, rather than blindly agree what we believe in.

I hope this knowledge helps in your personal and professional life. And if so, share the article with your friends and family.

Further reading:

1. 17 Confirmation Bias Examples

2. Why do we favor our existing beliefs?