Confirmation Bias: Validating Pre-Existing Beliefs

Understanding Confirmation Bias in Mental Health

Confirmation bias describes a mental process by which we have a tendency or a ‘leaning’ towards seeking out evidence that fits with our existing beliefs.

A further consequence of confirmation bias is that we also tend to ignore, or simply not ‘process’ evidence that contradicts what we believe.

In other words, we have a bias towards evidence that confirms our existing core belief systems (whether they are useful to us or not).

Furthermore, confirmation bias also tends to result in people:

• Discounting or ignoring information that does not fit with pre-conceptions.
• Exaggerating elements of an experience that fits with current beliefs.
• Explaining-away elements that don’t fit with beliefs as ‘exceptions to the rule’.

It is a normal mental process that, in general, does not lead to problems.

However, when it keeps us trapped in unhelpful belief systems, it can prevent us from overcoming life’s difficulties.

Some Effects of Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias does not, of course, always lead to life problems but it is a general principle related to ANY belief system:

Academic Bias

Academic researchers are often accused of ignoring evidence which clearly negates the theories that they propose.

This problem is normally addressed through the process known as ‘peer review’ in which academics from different backgrounds review the research to look for any of these biases within the results, methodologies or conclusions.

Selecting Friends and Aquaintances

Throughout the course of our lives, we have a tendency to seek-out and befriend people who hold the same values and beliefs as ourselves and in this way are able to gain external confirmation that our beliefs are ‘valid’.

We do not, in general terms, tend to develop relationships with people who hold fundamentally different beliefs to our own.

Consequently, religious people tend to associate with other religious people, right-wing extremists tend to associate with other right-wing extremists, and so on.

Having to defend your beliefs on a day-to-day basis because you mix with such diverse groups, is hard work and is often avoided through confirmation bias mechanisms.

How Confirmation Bias Can Keep You Stuck

Health anxiety, often rooted in a hyper-awareness of bodily sensations, can be significantly exacerbated by confirmation bias, leading individuals to remain trapped in a cycle of distress.

For instance, consider an individual who has a persistent fear of developing a serious illness.

When they experience a minor headache, rather than considering it a normal occurrence, they may immediately search for information that supports their fear and validate their anxiety.

They might read articles detailing the worst-case scenarios related to headaches, such as brain tumours, while dismissing or overlooking credible sources that suggest most headaches are benign and easily treated.

Even when they receive reassurance from a medical professional, their confirmation bias can lead them to interpret this reassurance as an exception, convincing themselves that their symptoms are different or more serious than what has been described.

As a result, they continue to engage in health-related behaviours that reinforce their anxiety, such as frequent doctor visits or excessive online research.

This cycle not only amplifies their anxiety but can also lead to additional physical symptoms due to the stress of their beliefs.

The mind becomes trapped in a self-reinforcing loop where evidence that contradicts their fears is ignored, thus preventing them from seeking effective treatment or adopting healthier coping strategies.

Such an example underscores the importance of recognising and addressing confirmation bias within the context of health anxiety, as it can create significant barriers to mental well-being and lead to prolonged suffering.