Another glaring problematic proclivity in our thinking is the automatic desire to seek out and value evidence that supports our beliefs and judgements, while also putting down and devaluing evidence that does not. You probably have heard “confirmation bias” mentioned before.
Recall our happy mind strolling along, it intuitively processes all information that fits its beliefs without effort. When the evidence matches, we actually feel good about it. Do you like being wrong? Generally not, so we are automatically hesitant to put forth effort on things that are unpleasant. Forcing our attention in that direction is like making a typical 6 year old boy to eat spinach or any green vegetable.
Because of that proclivity, let’s take one step further. We even cling to untrue beliefs in the face of contradictory evidence. Just look at the news media and their coverage of the same topic. It is like seeing two different movies while sitting in the same theater. Combine that with a triggered and emotional state (see previous post, Hey don't be so emotional), your mind will start advocating that initial belief and cannot even consider information that doesn’t fit.
Take any news item being reported today on mainstream media, and depending on the organization pushing it out, there are two different interpretations of the same information. It’s the latest bombshell! No, it’s fake news! Watching this play out in front of us, what can we trust?
What I know for sure is that very few of those news organizations are practicing critical thinking and giving objective news or analysis. But then, these media organizations do not have business models to promote truth or objectivity either. Their sensationalism is meant to feed right into the problematic proclivity of confirmation bias by triggering your emotions.
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