Every adult on the face of the earth has a set of biases deeply rooted in their brains. This is nothing to be surprised, ashamed, or confused about, it is the way we evolved. Our biases serve the purpose of freeing up cognitive capacity for more important, potentially lifesaving things, like the Fight or Flight response to anything that resembles danger.
Confirmation bias is one such cognitive shortcut. When we see something that we are familiar with, that confirms what we already think, we just accept it without analysis. Because it confirms to what we already believe, we accept it to be true.
We no longer live on the savannah where the rustle in the grass might be a sabre-toothed tiger, but the cognitive shortcuts that evolved in response to the need for instant recognition of that situation remain.
We use a host of these biases all the time in all facets of our lives, usually without recognising them.
Those who understand these cognitive shortcuts can use them to their benefit, and potentially our detriment. If someone can use a bias to elicit the response they want to some sort of stimuli, as in a sales situation, they can benefit, and those on the receiving end do not realise they are being manipulated.
The addition of the network effects of the web over the top of biases we all have has the effect of supercharging them. The social platforms particularly Facebook use this as a core part of their business model. Give people what they want and expect to see, and they will be increasingly committed to the view and the sources of ‘information’ on their view.
Over the time of this election campaign, we have seen the major parties put confirmation bias on steroids. Selected messages in selected places to selected audiences, seeking to confirm a selected response in the minds of the audience.
What a farce.
It is a graphic example of confirmation bias at work when what we need is thoughtful policy development and analysis as part of a robust strategy for the country.
Instead, we get this blizzard of psychologically driven tactical messages aimed only at Saturday May 21st.
I watched the Liberal Party ‘policy launch’ last Sunday morning. My penance for being so acerbic over the last months. Thankfully, both the treasurer, and national’s ‘leader’ were brief, but Scomo took 55 minutes of my life with a passionate plea to a packed house of selected Liberal party members for their vote. Presumably, he already has theirs, but what was interesting is that the whole thing was a zealot’s exhortation of a whole range of half-truths and outright misinterpretation of facts. Raw Confirmation bias on steroids for the packed house.
I wonder if any other swinging voter watched it, and had to run for the dunney as I did?
Thank heavens it will be over in a couple of days, but the hangover is likely to last for a while.
Header cartoon credit Chainsawsuit.com
