The Dangerous Trend of Confirmation Bias

Related imageImage result for confirmation biasIn class this week, we are researching and presenting on different theories and ideas as it applies to people's perspectives.  I am researching confirmation bias, and I think there is no better place to research this than in America right now.  First, confirmation bias is the idea that people will look for facts that support their own biases when researching a topic.  Take gun control for example.  Two different people may look at the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School form two years ago, but come up with two totally different conclusions based on the biases they had going into their research.  I think an example like this, which was very prevalent in the weeks after the shooting, is the perfect example of confirmation bias, and America's current thought process as a whole.  It seems like everyone is playing into their confirmation bias in today's culture, instead of actively trying to understand all points of view.  People today are too worried about being right that they sacrifice knowledge for it.  People all over the world, but seemingly more so in America, only care about being with the loudest group, not the group that is correct.  People today praise "individuality" by being exactly like everyone around them, and shaming anyone who isn't.  There is no longer "news," there's Fox and there's CNN.  There's no longer "government," there's right and left.  Worst of all, there's no longer "Americans," there's conservatives and liberals.  These words don't mean a difference in ideologies anymore, they are labels that dictate who is "right" and who is "wrong," even though which one is which depends on who you ask.       

Links: https://archinect.com/news/article/150169562/tackling-confirmation-bias-in-the-creative-process
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2019/11/21/seven-ways-your-mind-can-trick-you/#1c7f159d1f88

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