ECTO reflection #2

Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias stands as one of the most important topics discussed through our ECTO presentations in my opinion. Not only is it fairly unknown by many but it affects people in ways that can be detrimental to society in extreme situations. Every one of us does this. For example I know a lot about football, if someone tells me something about a player I follow that I didn’t know I will often dismiss what they say as false thinking I know more. I remember this happening when Odell Beckham jr. was one the New York Giants. This is called having a fixed mindset. 

This fixed mindset also known as a closed mindset can be dangerous as often change is good. When people hold on to fixed mindsets we can see a decrease in progress. Honestly no one cares about my opinion on a washed up NFL player however when it comes to other issues confirmation bias can forge long standing issues. Politics for example is one of the most dangerous cases for confirmation bias. Voters are more likely to believe news that confirms their own biases. This means voters pick and choose what news to believe and what to dismiss. This is what Fox News and CNN thrive off of. Preying on the biases of the individual to push their parties agenda.

This bias leads to less educated voters who don’t fully grasp the intentions of their candidate. This reminds me of the famous saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”. If voters are only absorbing what they need to confirm their support for their chosen candidate they miss out on the bad he or she is doing or the good their opponent might accomplish. 

News can reinforce our beliefs but we should also challenge them. If we take everything at face value we leave ourselves open to being taken advantage of. As stated in the presentation this will most affect the youth through their parents and the information they absorb through social media, which often turns into an echo chamber based on what the viewer wants to see.