Example # 2: Joe told Susan about how the evidence for the moon landing hoax is " overwhelming." Susan asked him how he came to this conclusion, then proceeded to educate Joe about the confirmation bias and its likely role in Joe ' s " research." Joe, appreciating reason, admits that he might have only looked for confirming evidence. He then goes back and spends a few hours looking at the evidence for the moon landings and evidence that claims to debunk the conspiracy theorists ' claims. Joe is not impressed. He still believes in the hoax theory, although less confident in his belief than before.
Joe, although appreciating reason, is still human. Joe is emotionally invested in the idea that the moon landing was a hoax because it would be, in Joe ' s words, " the greatest conspiracy of all time." Besides, he wants to be right and prove Susan wrong. These are unconscious thoughts so Joe does not realize that these thoughts have influenced how he evaluated the evidence.
All three forms of confirmation bias are working together, forming a feedback loop.
Example # 3: Susan asks Joe about his history with the moon landings, how much he remembers, and if he remembers any controversy. Joe was seventeen years old in 1969, and he remembers watching the event on television. He also remembers several discussions and events since that time when the legitimacy of the moon landings was brought into question. It turns out that Joe has always been very skeptical that we landed men on the moon.
Joe managed to recall conversations and events that provide " evidence " for the moon landings being a hoax, whereas he does not recall events that support the moon landings. All three forms of confirmation bias are working together forming a feedback loop that is making it very difficult for Joe to evaluate the evidence critically.
References: Hamilton, D. L.( 2005). Social cognition: Key readings. New York: Psychology Press.
Lord, C. G., Ross, L., & Lepper, M. R.( 1979). Biased assimilation and attitude polarization: The effects of prior theories on subsequently considered evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37( 11), 2098-2109. doi: 10.1037 / 0022- 3514.37.11.2098
Nickerson, R. S.( 1998). Confirmation bias: A ubiquitous phenomenon in many guises. Review of General Psychology, 2( 2), 175 – 220. doi: 10.1037 / 1089-2680.2.2.175
Popular speaker and author Bo Bennett( PhD, Social Psychology) is a successful businessman who has a passion for critical thinking and smart broadcasts. He is the host of the Humanist Hour, and Dr. Bo Show, where he discusses topics from business and social sciences.