Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias may be the most destructive bias. It's the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms your existing beliefs.

Search. You look for supporting evidence. Someone who thinks vaccines are dangerous googles "vaccine dangers," not "vaccine safety."

Interpretation. Ambiguous evidence gets read to fit the belief.

Memory. You recall supporting information more accurately than contradicting. Memory becomes a curated highlight reel.

The danger: it makes you feel more confident over time, even when your beliefs are wrong.