The curious case of confirmation bias: Our journey with a cute little EV car
Recently, we made an exciting addition to our family — a cute little electric vehicle (EV). Its sleek design, eco-friendly nature, and the thrill of driving something so innovative had us beaming with pride. As we began taking rides in our new car, a funny thing started happening. My partner would frequently point out, “Look, there’s the same car as ours. It looks like people are buying them more after we bought them. We must be lucky for the car manufacturer!” This observation, while amusing, opened the door to a deeper reflection on a fascinating psychological phenomenon: confirmation bias.
Confirmation bias is the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories. It can manifest in myriad ways. Whether it’s spotting a specific color of saree in a crowded market or suddenly noticing a particular type of dosa being served everywhere after you try it for the first time, our brains often play tricks on us, creating patterns that may not actually exist.
Take our EV experience. Before we purchased the car, it rarely caught our attention on the roads. But now, whether we’re navigating through Hyderabad’s bustling tech corridors or cruising down Pune’s scenic highways, it seems to appear everywhere. Did a wave of EV buyers sweep across the country? Probably not. Instead, our minds began spotlighting this car because it had become personally relevant to us.
The scientific angle
Psychological studies have long established the pervasive nature of confirmation bias. One landmark example comes from a 1979 experiment by Mark Snyder and Nancy Cantor. Participants read about “Jane,” a fictional character exhibiting both introverted and extroverted behaviors. When asked to determine whether Jane would thrive as a librarian or a real estate agent, their answers depended on the traits that aligned with each profession — highlighting how bias shapes even our recollections.
Closer home, confirmation bias explains why cricket fans believe their team is on the rise every time they notice a winning streak or why parents notice every new Montessori school after deciding to enroll their child in one — they were always there; you just started noticing them.
The broader impact
Confirmation bias significantly influences areas such as politics, media consumption, and societal norms. For instance, during elections, people tend to gravitate toward news outlets or social media echo chambers that reinforce their existing political leanings. The same happens in families debating over choices like vegetarianism — each side easily finds arguments and examples to bolster their stance.
This bias can also affect education, where students often lean into learning methods that align with their comfort zones, sometimes disregarding new techniques that could broaden their skills.
Mindful navigation
How can we steer past confirmation bias in our daily lives? A little introspection and curiosity can go a long way:
- Challenge assumptions
Next time you notice a trend — like the sudden proliferation of your new car model — pause and ask, “Is this real or just in my head?” This step alone opens the door to critical thinking. - Seek diverse perspectives
Make it a point to engage with differing viewpoints, be it on personal opinions or societal trends. If you’re reading a newspaper like The Hindu, balance it with a contrasting source. - Value evidence over emotion
Much like our EV car sighting spree, it’s easy to emotionally conclude that our preferences shape the world. Instead, consider data or broader evidence to check these impressions.
Our experience with the EV car is a delightful reminder of how our minds can play tricks on us. While it’s fun to imagine that we’re trendsetters in the automotive world, it’s also important to recognize the underlying cognitive processes at play. Confirmation bias, while powerful, can be managed through mindfulness and a commitment to seeking out diverse viewpoints.
So, the next time you find yourself noticing an uptick in something new in your life, take a moment to reflect. Is it a genuine increase, or is your mind filtering the world through its own unique lens? By understanding and addressing confirmation bias, we can move closer to a more accurate and enriching view of our reality.
(The author is the Content Head at Learning Curve)
