Confirmation bias is theUNCONSCIOUStendency to confirm our already existing leanings, propensities, beliefs, and prejudices, or hasty decisions. We are not onlyignorantof ourbiasesbut are also oftenunableto recognize them even when they are pointed out to us! We will rather believe that those who call us biased are biased, mistaken, and/or malicious (please check out'fundamental attribution error'). We often commit the following errors related toconfirmationbias: Selective scrutiny:accepting data/argument without much scrutiny from sources or for proposals we like but with much scrutiny from the ones we do not like (example: buying a new car)Selective recall:remembering events that support our opinion and not those that contradict it Pattern seeking:seeing 'proof' that 'something is going on' because of certain 'mysterious' coincidences. Affirming the question:when people are asked if they arehappywith their social life, almost 70% would answeryesand about 20% no, but if the question is asked the other way, asking them if they areunhappywith their social life, then approx. 70% would respondyesto that questionas well(in each instance, people think about reasons they may be happy -- or unhappy -- and find enough reasons to say, yes, they are. Avoiding cognitive dissonance:accepting certain ideas because they are consistent with our existingworldview/opinionor rejecting others because they are not -- instead of working through the issues themselves (which can be very difficult and/or unsettling)Demanding 'yes or no answers:'(seeing in black and white) being convinced that there must beabsolutelygood solutions, perfect (or perfectly rotten) people, or believing that someone who 'opposes' a 'bad' person isnecessarilya 'good' person (as if we have never heard of gangs warring over turf, killing each other, for example). We oftenjustifyour (faulty)judgmentby pointing out that the alternative is less than perfect as well.The above issues are but thetip of the iceberg,so to speak, when it comes toconfirmation bias(yes, there is anenormousamount of research about it).

Please describe an occasion that happened latelywhen you caught yourselffalling intoconfirmationbiasbut after allended up correcting yourself.Pleasedo not forget: lying, cheating,consciouslytwisting thefactsor torturing reasoning are NOT confirmation bias (they are just not the best behavior); however,strongly and often passionatelybelieving that we arecorrectwhen all the evidence contradicting it is in front of our noseisthe consequence ofconfirmationbias.Provide references and in text citations