Confirmation Bias

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. This psychological phenomenon affects how stories are told and perceived, especially when unreliable narrators are involved, as they may present information selectively to support their own views, leading audiences to question the validity of the narrative.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Confirmation bias can cause readers to align more closely with an unreliable narrator's perspective, reinforcing their own biases.
2. In stories featuring unreliable narrators, confirmation bias can lead audiences to overlook contradictions in the narrative.
3. Authors can intentionally use confirmation bias to create tension or suspense by revealing an unreliable narrator's selective presentation of facts.
4. When viewers or readers encounter confirmation bias, it can result in polarized interpretations of a story, dividing audiences based on their beliefs.
5. The use of confirmation bias can deepen character development by illustrating how characters’ preconceived notions affect their understanding of events.

Review Questions

• How does confirmation bias impact the way audiences perceive stories told by unreliable narrators?
  • Confirmation bias plays a significant role in shaping audience perceptions of narratives delivered by unreliable narrators. When audiences hold certain beliefs or opinions, they may gravitate toward elements in the story that align with those views while ignoring inconsistencies or contradictions. This selective engagement can reinforce the unreliable narrator’s distorted reality and impact how the overall narrative is understood.
• What techniques can authors employ to leverage confirmation bias in creating tension or conflict within their narratives?
  • Authors can effectively utilize confirmation bias by crafting characters who embody strong beliefs that are challenged throughout the story. By presenting information selectively through an unreliable narrator and allowing moments where these beliefs are tested, authors can create tension and conflict as characters and readers grapple with the discrepancies between perception and reality. This technique not only builds suspense but also encourages audiences to reflect on their own biases.
• Evaluate how confirmation bias might affect character development in stories with unreliable narrators and its implications for thematic depth.
  • In narratives featuring unreliable narrators, confirmation bias significantly influences character development by illustrating how personal beliefs shape perceptions of truth. Characters may become entrenched in their views, leading them to interpret events through a biased lens. This dynamic deepens thematic exploration as it invites readers to consider broader issues of truth, belief, and perception, encouraging a critical examination of how biases affect relationships and decision-making within the narrative.

Related terms

Unreliable Narrator: A character whose credibility is compromised, often leading to a skewed or distorted perception of the events within the story.

Narrative Perspective: The viewpoint from which a story is told, influencing how information is presented and interpreted by the audience.

Cognitive Dissonance: The mental discomfort experienced when confronted with information that contradicts one's beliefs, often leading to a rejection of new evidence.