Confirmation Bias Is Your Brain's Favorite Shortcut

You watch the news — or scroll through your feed while trying to enjoy breakfast — and see a highly credible person getting grilled at a legislative hearing, while someone with the credibility of someone who howls at the moon gets a free pass and is treated like the keeper of sacred truth. Tell me that doesn’t make you want to scream!

We like to think we’re good at telling what’s true and what’s false. Sometimes we are. Other times... well, let’s just say our brains occasionally take the day off.

Enter confirmation bias. You’ve probably heard of it. Not yet? Lucky you — here’s the quick version: The American Psychological Association describes it as our tendency to look for or interpret information in ways that support what we already believe, while ignoring anything that disagrees. It’s basically our brain whispering, “Shh, don’t worry about that conflicting evidence. It’s probably fine.”

Spotting confirmation bias in others is often easier than spotting it in ourselves. Watch how people react when their beliefs are challenged. Someone deep in confirmation bias will share only articles, videos, and memes that reinforce their worldview, while ignoring credible evidence that contradicts it, treating it like spam from a sketchy prince offering gold. They genuinely believe they’re being objective. Confirmation bias is sneaky like that.

Recognizing it in ourselves is harder because, honestly, we tend to trust our own judgment too much. Feeling defensive when someone questions our beliefs? That’s a sign. Only following news sources that confirm what we already think? Another sign. Accepting information without checking it because it “sounds right”? A big sign. Asking questions like “What evidence would change my mind?” or “Have I actually considered the other side?” can help us notice when our thinking is becoming one-sided.

The good news: confirmation bias isn’t a lifelong sentence. We can lessen it by intentionally seeking trustworthy information from different viewpoints. Reading reliable sources that challenge us helps us understand complex issues more fully. Listening — truly listening — to people who disagree with us can open doors we didn’t realize were there. It doesn’t mean we have to change our minds every time someone disagrees; it just means we’re open to considering new evidence without shutting the door.

Critical thinking is another strong tool. Before accepting a claim, ask where it started, if the source is trustworthy, and whether the evidence holds up. Respectful conversations can reveal blind spots in our reasoning and help us see issues from new angles. And yes, admitting we’re wrong may feel like swallowing a cactus, but it’s essential for growth.

Confirmation bias is a part of being human — but it doesn’t have to control us. By recognizing it, questioning our assumptions, and seeking balanced information, we become better thinkers, better communicators, and better decision-makers. As the APA notes, confirmation bias influences how we interpret information, which is why staying aware of it is important.

(Tim Herrera is the author of “Public Speaking: Simple Steps to Improve Your Skills” and “Mastering Media: Strategies for Effective Communication in the Digital Age.”  You will find both Amazon. You will also find him on Substack at When Life Has Other Plans.)