In which Wolf opens day 13's door... Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/JUHoor4lNIY
Welcome to the Beware of Wolf Advent Calendar of Bad Thinking. To celebrate the holidays, I'm counting down the days until Christmas with a common type of bad thinking each day, described in 60 seconds. This holiday season, give the gift of good thinking by sharing this video with your friends!
Today is Day 13: "Confirmation Bias"
In 2001 the U.S. suffered the horrendous 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, which resulted in the loss of almost 3,000 lives. Leading up to the Iraq War in 2003, many politicians and news outlets had already made up their minds about the need for war, despite the lack of conclusive evidence connecting Iraq to the 9/11 attacks.
This rush to revenge led the US into entering an extremely costly war that lasted for over a decade, with thousands of American casualties and trillions of dollars in costs. It also caused immense suffering for the Iraqi people and further destabilized the Middle East region. And the "evidence" linking Iraq to the 9/11 attacks was later disconfirmed.
Confirmation bias is when we selectively search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs. For example, if you believe that a particular political party is best for the country, you may be more likely to spend your time reading articles and opinions that reinforce that belief, instead of researching both sides of the argument.
If others seem too invested in a particular belief or opinion, or if they're not open to considering alternative perspectives, or if they only seem to get their information from one source or rely heavily on a single narrative, then it's likely that they are exhibiting confirmation bias.
Finally, to avoid confirmation bias in yourself, be aware of your own biases and preconceived notions, and be open to opposing viewpoints. Actively seek out disconfirming evidence and question your sources of information.
Happy Holidays!