Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.
Related terms
Selective Perception: The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages while ignoring opposing viewpoints.
The theory suggesting we feel discomfort when our thoughts and behaviors don’t align so we try to reduce this discomfort through changing our attitudes or behaviors.
Belief Bias Effect: The tendency to judge the strength of arguments based on the plausibility of their conclusion rather than how strongly they support that conclusion.