How does confirmation bias affect our decision-making and perception of truth?

Confirmation bias is when we choose to see what we want to see, and ignore what doesn’t match our ideas.

Imagine you have a favorite ice cream flavor, let's say chocolate. Now, every time you eat chocolate ice cream, it feels amazing. But if you try something new, like vanilla or strawberry, and it’s not as good, you might think, “I don’t like those other flavors.” That’s confirmation bias in action! You’re only paying attention to the times your favorite flavor was great, and not noticing when other flavors could be just as nice.

Your brain is like a filter. When you believe something, like chocolate ice cream is the best, it helps you see more of what supports that belief. You might even remember the times your favorite flavor was great, and forget the times it was just okay.

But if you start trying new flavors, or hear someone say vanilla is amazing, your brain might get a little surprised. That’s when you realize: “Maybe there are other good things out there too.”