Fantasia believes that people with blue eyes are somehow more creative than other people. Whenever Fantasia encounters a person that has blue eyes and is creative, she places greater importance on this evidence supporting her already existing belief. At the same time, Fantasia ignores any evidence that people without blue eyes might display exceptional creativity. This is called a
1) confirmation bias
2) confirmation preçonception
3) confirmation preference
4) confirmation prejudice
The correct answer and explanation is :
Correct Answer: 1) confirmation bias
Explanation:
The scenario described illustrates a classic example of confirmation bias—a well-documented cognitive bias in psychology. Confirmation bias occurs when individuals favor information that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses while disregarding or minimizing evidence that contradicts them. In this case, Fantasia already holds the belief that people with blue eyes are more creative. As a result, she pays extra attention to and gives more weight to any examples of creative individuals with blue eyes. Conversely, she ignores or undervalues cases where non-blue-eyed individuals exhibit creativity, which goes against her preconceived notion.
This type of bias can significantly distort one’s perception of reality. Rather than objectively evaluating all available evidence, the individual selectively gathers information in a way that reinforces their belief, which further entrenches that belief, even if it’s incorrect or based on anecdotal observations. This can lead to skewed thinking, flawed decision-making, and the persistence of stereotypes or misconceptions.
Confirmation bias is particularly pervasive because it operates on a subconscious level. People often do not realize they are exhibiting the bias. It can influence a range of settings, including scientific research, political opinions, hiring decisions, and everyday social interactions.
In contrast, the other options provided—confirmation preconception, confirmation preference, and confirmation prejudice—are not recognized psychological terms. While they may sound similar, they are not used in academic or clinical psychology to describe the phenomenon.
Recognizing confirmation bias is essential for developing critical thinking skills. By being aware of this bias, individuals can take steps to challenge their assumptions, seek out diverse perspectives, and evaluate evidence more objectively, ultimately leading to more balanced and informed conclusions.