Comfort, Confirmation Bias and Healing Journeys

Stop Telling Yourself Only What You Expect to Hear

Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash

What is Confirmation Bias

The Comfort of Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias is a term we often hear in political discussions, especially during election seasons. However, at its core, it’s a psychological construct, not a political one. In this post, we delve into how confirmation bias acts as an umbrella concept that can hinder the healing of psychic wounds.

Imagine your brain as a cozy living room with a fireplace, a favorite chair, and well-worn slippers. These slippers represent your confirmation biases—they provide comfort and familiarity, much like how our biases make us feel comfortable in our beliefs. By focusing on information that supports our existing beliefs, we avoid the discomfort of conflicting data, maintaining an unchallenged mental state. This blissful ignorance can prevent us from dealing realistically with that which can cause us pain.

But what exactly is this phenomenon we call confirmation bias?

Comfy, but limited.

The Limits of Cognitive Comfort

Confirmation bias is like a mental shortcut, where we subconsciously pick out the details of life that bolster our preconceived notions and deftly sidestep any data that dares to argue. These biases provide comfort and familiarity, much like well-worn slippers. However, these slippers aren’t made for all terrains. You wouldn’t use them to explore the beauty and majesty surrounding a mountain trail. They may feel good initially but won’t stand up to the rigors of a long, challenging hike.

Photo by Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

Similarly, the lens of your confirmation biases might make you ill-prepared to confront the sometimes-brutal realities crucial in overcoming trauma. Shying away from these unsettling truths can stunt personal growth and evolution, likely leading to a life stuck in one place. Consistently seeking comfort in these cognitively cozy corners of our minds can leave us living in a less vibrant world devoid of true adventure.

Confirmation Biases as Prophecy

Confirmation biases can determine our futures. While they aren’t the same as self-fulfilling prophecies, they can function in similar ways: they involve sticking to what is already believed and looking for proof to back it up instead of being open to all the facts, whether they are seen as negative or positive.