Belief bias

Belief bias is a type of cognitive bias that occurs when an individual's evaluation of the logical validity of an argument is influenced by the believability of the conclusion. People tend to accept conclusions that align with their existing beliefs and reject those that do not, regardless of the soundness of the supporting premises.

How it works

Belief bias operates by prioritizing the intuitiveness of a conclusion over the logical process that leads to it. When people are presented with an argument, their focus often shifts from critically evaluating the logical structure to assessing whether the conclusion feels true based on their pre-existing beliefs. This cognitive shortcut simplifies complex reasoning processes but can lead to illogical conclusions being accepted if they conform to one's beliefs.

Examples

• A person might mistakenly accept the argument: 'All flowers are plants. Some green things are plants. Therefore, some green things are flowers.' if they strongly believe in the ubiquity of flowers being green.
• During a political debate, a listener may accept flawed reasoning that supports their favored candidate's position because they already agree with the conclusion presented.

Consequences

Belief bias can lead to ill-informed decisions and the reinforcement of incorrect ideas. By accepting conclusions based on belief rather than logic, individuals may disregard factual information, perpetuate stereotypes, or resist new evidence that contradicts their pre-existing views.

Counteracting

To counteract belief bias, individuals can practice active critical thinking by focusing on the logical coherence of arguments over intuitive judgement. Educating oneself on logical fallacies and consistently questioning assumptions can also help mitigate the influence of belief bias. Additionally, considering alternative perspectives and seeking disconfirming evidence may provide a more balanced viewpoint.

Critiques

Some critiques of belief bias involve the challenge of objectively analyzing whether an individual is truly swayed by a belief, as opposed to simply disagreeing with an argument. Furthermore, belief bias highlights a limitation in human cognition, suggesting that people might be inherently predisposed to prioritize familiar beliefs, complicating efforts to completely eliminate such biases.

Fields of Impact

Also known as

Relevant Research

• Belief bias in reasoning and decision making: A review

  Jonathan St. B. T. Evans, David E. Over (2008)

  Psychological Review

• The role of belief bias in the truth-problem: A theoretical analysis and review of empirical studies

  Andrew Johnson-Laird (2006)

  Cognitive Psychology