Belief Bias

Belief bias is when we accept something as true simply because it fits with what we already believe.

Instead of fairly evaluating the facts, we tend to defend our existing beliefs and overlook anything that challenges them.

This makes it hard for us to consider arguments on their own merit, and we reinforce our views rather than question them.

A more helpful way to think about beliefs is in terms of probability, rather than absolute truth.

For example we might assign a 95%+ chance that thinking in terms of probability will help us think better, and a less than 1% chance that our existing beliefs have no room for any doubt.

Thinking probabalistically forces us to evaluate more rationally.

A useful thing to ask is 'when and how did I get this belief?' We tend to automatically defend our ideas without ever really questioning them.

#BeliefBias #ChallengeYourBeliefs #ThinkRationally
#QuestionYourAssumptions #BiasInThinking #EvaluateTheFacts
#ProbabilisticThinking #OvercomingBias #RethinkYourBeliefs
#OpenMindedness