Confirmation Bias

Cropped from MSNBC European news screen July 23.

Want to know how our Muslim neighbors feel when reading some headlines about Muslim extremists?  Just ask me after reading this sub-headline.

I have been aware of ‘confirmation bias’ studies, and I’m certain many look upon my blog as being the result of searches on my part to confirm beliefs I’ve held for decades.  I think it would be good to take a serious look at ‘confirmation bias’ in order to look both sides of any issue.  Especially within the current climate of social and political polarization, going far beyond religious polarization.

Several resources on confirmation bias studies quote Wickens and Hollands (2000, p. 312) defining CB as being the process:

“…for people to seek information and cues that confirm the tentatively held hypothesis or belief, and not seek (or discount) those that support an opposite conclusion or belief.”

Industries are built on confirmation bias. The media, print and online, use it.  To the detriment of many who have beliefs we hold to be fundamental, not wishing to see the word used as a label.  It does not have to be that way.

I was blessed with the opportunity to work with a very diverse group of people – with at least one similar goal:  To create revenue for the international company that employed us in order to have them continue in business and continue to employ us.

We came from different continents, countries, societies, religions and totally different biases!  If we could not get past our own confirmation bias, how could we work together?  Was it necessary for any one of us to relinquish our fundamental beliefs? Of course not.

We retained our differences.  And we retained our respect for our co-workers without changing ourselves.  A cube-mate knew I believed his homosexuality was defined as sin by scriptures in the Old and New Testament. He most certainly did not.  Differences did not require changes in either of our lives in order to work together.  A teammate kept his Quran in his office, just as the Bible resided in mine.  We discussed social issues and religion without rancor, without defining labels. The examples from this one work group could run on and on.

Yet, in each example, no matter that we looked for as confirmation of our belief system, we found no need to destroy the other’s.  That does not hold true for extremists who will not allow others to retain differing beliefs.

Extremists exist within any belief system, whether social, political, or religious. They need no other descriptive label than “extremist”. They are often violent, be they left, right, religious, atheist, race conscious, ad infinitum.

A study of scripture can help us all:

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (Philippians 4:5 KJV)

As Christians, we can do that when we realize that God is in control.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. (1 Samuel 2:3 KJV)