confirmation bias

confirmation bias (usually uncountable, plural confirmation biases)

1. (psychology) A 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 reject that which conflicts with it.
   • 2020 February 26, Will Dunn, “William Gibson on the apocalypse: “it’s been happening for at least 100 years””, in New Statesman‎^[1]:

     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.

   • 2025 December 20, Hanna Notte, “Europe risks a self-fulfilling prophecy over Russia threat”, in FT Weekend, page 7:

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

• confirmation bias on Wikipedia.Wikipedia