What is the definition of confirmation bias?

Confirmation bias refers to the tendency of individuals to seek out, interpret, and remember information in a way that reinforces their pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses. This means that when people have a particular belief or expectation, they are naturally inclined to search for evidence that supports that belief while simultaneously overlooking or dismissing evidence that contradicts it.

In the context of this question, option B accurately captures the core definition of confirmation bias. It emphasizes the active pursuit of information that aligns with one’s existing views, which can significantly impact decision-making processes, critical thinking, and the objectivity of analyses.

The other options touch upon related cognitive biases, but they do not fully encapsulate the essence of confirmation bias. They describe different phenomena that might involve biased thinking but are not comprehensive representations of confirmation bias itself. Understanding confirmation bias is crucial in fields that demand objective analysis, such as research and decision-making roles, to avoid skewed judgments based on incomplete or biased information.