PP201 Lecture Notes - Confirmation Bias, The Automatic, Cognitive Psychology
Document Summary
We continue with our look at cognitive psychology. Today we consider how we are often too hasty in reaching conclusions, again based on daniel. When we look at the first set of figures we interpret 13" as the numerals 13". And when we look at the second set of figures we interpret 13" as the letter b". The automatic nature of these interpretations indicates that system 1 is at work. It aims for speed of thinking, measured by coherence in this case. What this example points to is a craving we have for coherence or consistency in our beliefs. Once we initially assume something to be true we immediately seek to confirm it. We saw this bias in action regarding the halo effect by example of the girls surveyed about their favourite music. When asked is jerry trustworthy?", for example, one almost always tries to recall episodes that support his being trustworthy. We have a positive bias in this respect.
