Comformation bias 6/6

The one thing left on my mind, was the aforementioned "conformation bias". Beck's definition of "proof that you're right all the time" wasn't enough for me, because we're not right all the time. So what did he mean?

So I took to the streets of the internet and just typed in 'Conformation bias definition" just to gain some idea on what it really means. This came up with: "Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms or strengthens one's prior personal beliefs or hypotheses." So in short, looking only for facts that back up and strengthen your own opinion and beliefs rather than educating yourself on the counterargument.

Again, this wasn't enough for me; I wanted to know why. So I headed over to youtube to find a video explaining in greater detail what Conformation Bias is really about.

The video begins using an analogy of an elephant and a rider, to describe the connection we have between our consciousness (the rider), and unconsciousness (the elephant), and how they work together. The narrator of the video "thought monkey", explains "our minds are divided between an elephant and a rider; and while we often think of the ride as the one in control of the elephant, we often forget that the rider is only the guide". I guess it's a similar idea to the quote "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink". Although you may think you are making all of your good decisions based on your conscious mind, it is your unconscious mind that decides how you react.

The video explains how it is that gap between your consciousness and unconsciousness that "makes you think you're right when you're wrong". This is because humans are naturally bias, wether this is towards yourself, your beliefs or values. Bias is simply "when we think in a way that leads us to be wrong". There are hundreds and thousands of types of bias, one of the most familiar being 'Conformation Bias'.

An example of conformation bias given by the video, is of a politician on tv denying that the climate is changing, but only uses facts that support their point of view.

Our brains take shortcuts through data to work out what's the most important. These short cuts, explained in the video, are stored deeply in our unconscious minds and is why we create stereotypes. The example given was that "men are seen as leaders and women are seen as caretakers", and regardless of how wrong this may be, as we are exposed to stereotypes such as these, our life experiences mean our brains create patterns and store them in our unconsciousness. These patterns turn to generalised thoughts which evolve into expectations. Expectations are based off of stereotypes. Notice the pattern?

Going back to Beck's definition of conformation bias being "proof that you're right all the time" is not wrong but it also not right. Conformation bias is looking for proof that suits your view and makes you believe you're right all the time. The video asks the question "why do we try and prove people wrong even when we're wrong?" and answers using the studies of the Theory in Evolutionary Psychology which explains "we've evolved our ability to reason, as a way to further our social agendas, justify our actions and defend the groups we belong to". I can relate to this, knowing that before now for example I have only offered my political opinion to an opposer if I know there is someone else with me to share my viewpoint, and back up my beliefs, because you feel safer if you believe your viewpoint is shared by the majority, and has more chance of winning.

The problem I have taken from conformation bias, is that it effectively completely disregards a counter argument and viewpoint. If you only care about your side of the story, without trying to understand the alternative, as much as you disagree with it, then what are you really trying to achieve? Knowledge is power, and as easy it is to stick with your opinion and never stray from it, you will never know what you may learn it you start to look at situations in life from a different angle. The video ends saying "we forget we can be wrong", and this is something I have been contemplating a lot lately. I've been reflecting about how often in my life I have been completely convinced that what I was thinking was 100% right, and it's not that I would disregard the opinion of others, it was more I was just so sure in myself that I was right that I didn't need to consider an alternative. However I don't think that desire to find complete belief that you are right is actually important. Life in unpredictable, and spontaneous, life is not black and white so why should your opinions be?