This bias can be encapsulated by the common saying, “Seeing only what one wants to see.” (Image courtesy of The Korean Social and Personality Psychological Association (KSPPA))
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – Experts have identified confirmation bias as the most critical socio-psychological phenomenon that South Korean society needs to guard against this year.
The Korean Social and Personality Psychological Association (KSPPA), following a survey among its members, has announced confirmation bias as the key socio-psychological phenomenon to watch in 2024.
Established in 1975, this academic organization aims to contribute to the advancement of psychology and the resolution of social issues, with experts in social and personality psychology as its members.
According to the KSPPA, confirmation bias is the tendency to actively seek evidence that supports one’s own beliefs while ignoring or dismissing evidence that contradicts them. This bias can be encapsulated by the common saying, “Seeing only what one wants to see.”
This bias manifests in various forms in everyday life. A prime example is in the context of political and social issues, where people tend to selectively embrace news that aligns with their views while intentionally excluding opposing perspectives.
The KSPPA notes that this bias has been exacerbated recently by internet and social media recommendation algorithms that provide personalized information based on individual users’ viewing and search histories.
Experts warn that confirmation bias occurs automatically and is not exclusive to the general public; professionals are not immune.
Examples include medical professionals focusing only on symptoms that match initial diagnoses while ignoring others, legal professionals concentrating solely on evidence that supports a suspect’s guilt, and scholars dismissing results that contradict their hypotheses or attributing them to research design flaws.
This bias manifests in various forms in everyday life. A prime example is in the context of political and social issues, where people tend to selectively embrace news that aligns with their views while intentionally excluding opposing perspectives. (Image: The Blue Diamond Gallery/CCL)
The KSPPA explains that while confirmation bias does not always lead to incorrect judgments, it can impede wise decision-making by preventing an objective understanding of situations and potentially exacerbating social conflicts.
People fall into confirmation bias for various reasons, including the desire for quick decision-making by focusing only on information that aligns with pre-existing beliefs or the reluctance to acknowledge that one’s own opinions may be incorrect, often to protect self-esteem.
To mitigate confirmation bias, the KSPPA advises recognizing its potential occurrence in decision-making processes and making a conscious effort to seek out information that contradicts one’s views.
“Recognizing the possibility of confirmation bias is already half the battle,” the KSPPA notes. “Following that realization with a deliberate effort to find opposing evidence can significantly aid in making more accurate and balanced judgments and decisions.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
