standard of evidence for evidence
that they do not want to be true.
Confirmation bias can involve a different thought process called confirmatory thought, which seeks evidence to justify an already held point
of view. Lerner and Tetlock have
succeeded in separating two different trains of thought. Exploratory
thought is a neutral process that
considers all the evidence and predicts all possible outcomes, whilst
confirmatory thought attempts to
validate their currently held view.
Interestingly, Lerner and Tetlock
claim that people only force themselves to use critical thinking when
they know they will have to argue
their point to those whose opinion they do not know or are well
informed on the subject.
An availability heuristic may be used
by people to judge a particular situation based on what information
easily comes to mind. Motivational
explanation for confirmation bias
focus on wishful thinking - prefer
happy thoughts or outcomes