confirmation bias

plural confirmation biases

1. uncountableusuallyhuman sciencesA cognitive bias towards confirmation of the hypothesis under study; a psychological tendency to look for and accept information which supports one's values and worldview and either reject, explain away, or reinterpret as further confirmation, that which conflicts with it.

   That overcorrection might nurture confirmation bias, an inclination to look for evidence that validates one's fears while ignoring any signs to the contrary.

   2025 December 20, Hanna Notte, “Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy over Russia threat”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 7

   1 more example

   Days after this interview, on 12 February this year, fighting broke out between US troops and pro-Assad forces just outside Qamishli. Confirmation bias is rarely so fast, or so unnervingly accurate.

   2020 February 26, Will Dunn, “William Gibson on the apocalypse: “it’s been happening for at least 100 years””, in New Statesman