What is the term for the tendency to seek out information that supports our existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence?

The term for the tendency to seek out information that supports our existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence is confirmation bias. This cognitive bias leads individuals to favor information that confirms their preconceptions, making it easier for them to maintain their beliefs and often leading to distorted thinking. It can manifest in various ways, such as selectively gathering evidence from sources that align with one's viewpoint, interpreting ambiguous evidence as supporting those beliefs, and remembering information that confirms existing opinions while forgetting information that challenges them.

Understanding confirmation bias is essential because it affects decision-making processes, discussions, and even scientific research, as it can hinder the objective evaluation of evidence and lead to a reinforcement of false beliefs or misconceptions. This bias emphasizes how our mental frameworks can shape our perceptions of reality, often to the detriment of thorough and unbiased analysis.