PHIL 110 - Sept 19

What is confirmation bias?

A cognitive bias that leads individuals to notice and interpret information in a way that confirms their pre-existing beliefs.

How does confirmation bias affect our perception?

It causes us to see what we expect to see and ignore conflicting evidence.

What is motivated reasoning?

A subtype of confirmation bias where individuals interpret information in a way that aligns with their desires or motivations.

What is motivated confirmation bias?

A form of bias that operates unconsciously, leading individuals to apply selective standards to evidence based on their biases.

What is the 'introspection illusion'?

The mistaken belief that we can see our own biases, leading us to think we are unbiased.

What is the significance of 'considering the opposite'?

It's a technique to combat bias by asking how one would interpret evidence if they held an opposing view.

How do selective standards manifest in confirmation bias?

Individuals lower their standards for evidence that supports their beliefs and raise them for evidence that contradicts them.

What does 'decoupling' refer to in the context of bias?

The process of separating one's beliefs from the evidence to evaluate it more objectively.

How can asking the right questions help combat bias?

It encourages individuals to consider how they would react to evidence if it supported an opposing view.

What is the 'bias blindspot'?

The inability to recognize one's own biases while being able to see biases in others.

What role do expectations play in confirmation bias?

Expectations color how we interpret ambiguous experiences, making them fit our pre-existing views.

What is the impact of binary beliefs on judgment?

The assumption that beliefs are strictly binary complicates the evaluation of evidence and contributes to bias.

What is the effect of motivated reasoning on evidence evaluation?

It leads individuals to notice and favor evidence that aligns with their motivated opinions.

How does confirmation bias influence our interpretation of studies?

It can lead individuals to misinterpret study results based on their prior beliefs.

What does an open mindset entail in the context of bias?

Being receptive to evidence that supports alternative views and willing to revise one's beliefs.

How can one practice 'considering the opposite'?

By imagining how they would treat evidence if it pointed in the opposite direction of their beliefs.

What is an example of motivated confirmation bias in action?

A person who believes a conspiracy theory may only accept evidence that supports it while dismissing contradictory evidence.

Why is it difficult to be open to evidence against our beliefs?

Because confirmation bias leads us to raise our standards for what constitutes sufficient evidence against our views.

What does it mean to have an open mindset?

Being willing to consider and evaluate evidence that challenges one's existing beliefs.