What is confirmation bias?

Confirmation bias refers to the inclination individuals have to seek out, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. This cognitive bias leads people to prioritize information that supports what they already think or feel, while often disregarding or undervaluing evidence that contradicts those beliefs.

This tendency can significantly impact decision-making and problem-solving processes, as it narrows the perspective of an individual or group, making it harder to consider alternative viewpoints or new evidence that could lead to a more informed decision.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately define confirmation bias. The avoidance of decision-making as suggested in the first choice signifies a different cognitive barrier rather than a bias in processing information. The lack of attention to all available information mentioned in the third choice indicates a general inattentiveness rather than the specific directional bias towards supporting one's beliefs. Finally, the process of collecting all possible viewpoints described in the fourth option suggests a holistic approach to information gathering, which is the opposite of the selective nature of confirmation bias. Therefore, the correct understanding of confirmation bias lies in recognizing it as the tendency to seek out and favor information that aligns with one's existing beliefs.