Validating Bias
How does it impact our organizations?
By Susan D. Rostkoski, Principal Consultant
A recent news story highlighted the topic of “confirmation bias,” the very human tendency to seek and interpret evidence that confirms one's existing beliefs or theories.
For example, imagine that a person holds a belief that left-handed people are more creative than right-handed people. Whenever this person encounters a person that is both left-handed and creative, they place greater importance on this "evidence" supporting their already existing belief.
Nobel-prize winner Daniel Kahneman* warns that even scientists who commit to a theory tend to disregard inconsistent facts, concluding that the facts are wrong, not the theory. So, confirmation bias can easily lead us to reach inaccurate –and even unethical– conclusions. In other words, we tend to only seek confirming rather than disconfirming evidence.
People experience confirmation bias primarily because of two powerful motivators: 1) challenge avoidance-the desire to avoid finding out that we’re wrong, and 2) reinforcement seeking-the desire to find out that we’re right. The reality is that confirmation bias cannot be avoided or eliminated, but only managed by improving education and critical thinking skills.
VERYWELL MIND (https://www.verywellmind.com/), a mental health and self-improvement website, suggests a few different ways that we can try to keep confirmation bias at bay:
Be aware of the signs that you may be falling victim to it. This includes being aware of your personal biases and how they might be influencing your decision-making.
Consider all the evidence available, rather than just the evidence confirming your views.
Seek out different perspectives, especially from those who hold opposing views.
Be willing to change your mind in light of new evidence, even if it means updating or changing your current beliefs.
Think about what you can do right now with this challenge, in your home, workplace, social media presence, or community activities. The best question you can ask right now is, “What other options are there to consider?” Just recognizing confirmation bias in myself has been an eye-opener and has led me to a path that helps me be a better version of my authentic self. Try it, you might like it.
*Daniel Kahneman was awarded the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his work on the psychology of judgment and decision-making, as well as behavioral economics.
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