[Peace-discuss] “You are BIASED and I am not.”

[Szoke, Ron]

Copied from the “critical thinking / cognitive bias” cards distributed by the School of Thought
   [ My interpolated comments are in square brackets. — RSz. ] 

> CONFIRMATION BIAS
You favor things that confirm your existing beliefs.  We are primed to see and agree with ideas that fit our preconceptions, and to ignore and dismiss information that conflicts with them.  The first principle is that you must not fool yourself — and you are the  easiest person to fool. — Richard Feynman

   [ Sometimes called “cherry-picking” & “nit-picking.” One of the most extensively researched & frequently confirmed conclusions in recent cognitive psychology. ]

>  BELIEF BIAS
If a conclusion supports your existing beliefs, you’ll rationalize anything that supports it.  It’s difficult for us to set aside our existing ideas to consider the true merits of an argument.  In practice, this means that our beliefs become impervious to criticism, and are perpetually reinforced.  A useful thing to ask is “When and how did I get this belief?” 

   [ One of the rarest, most difficult & valuable things in life is to be able see ourselves as others see us, to “objectify ourselves” & think honestly about how we acquired our most fundamental beliefs & convictions about ourselves, others & the world. ]

>  IN-GROUP BIAS  
You unfairly favor those who belong to your group.   We presume that we are fair and impartial, but the truth is that we automatically favor those who are most like us, or belong to our groups.  Try to imagine yourself in the position of those in out-groups, whilst also attempting to be dispassionate when judging those who belong to your groups. 
 
   [ Sometimes called “tribalism” or “birds of a feather.”  Also, consider your boss (or supervising professor or other authority figure)  who, without ever realizing or admitting it, probably wants to replicate him/herself, so it will be to your advantage to imitate — to think, act, look, dress, sound like, etc. — this person as much as you possibly can without being too obvious about it, of course.  Admittedly, this makes things more difficult if you are of a different race, ethnicity, sex, religion, political persuasion, etc., from the Big Cheese, but “that’s life,” as the Joker says. ]  

   #  #   #