Confirmation Bias

Why do we make the decisions we make? What kind of critical thought is involved? Perhaps, more importantly, how much better would things be if we made better decisions?

Is there technology we can use? Or, is it simply a matter of framing those decisions differently?

What would happen if we abandoned “Either/Or” and embraced “And” instead?

I’m guessing that if we asked better questions — more probing and open questions — we just might get better answers and I believe Chip and Dan Heath, authors of, Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work, would agree.

What would happen if we were able to reign in our tendency to ignore any empirical evidence contradicting our present way of thinking, and embraced the information that most fiercely challenges the decision we’ve made or are about to make?

Confirmation Bias is real! I experienced it while confronting the decision to participate in stem cell/bone marrow transplant or take my chances with Primary Myelofibrosis. I worked hard to avoid any information confirming the risks and dangers involved and worked just as hard to focus on any and all success stories.

In this case, Confirmation Bias worked for me. But how many times has it resulted in a bad decision in your life? A bad decision based on inadequate or erroneous information or no negative information at all?

I’m not sure you have to go to war against our tendency to look for support and reinforcement and to avoid the challenges intrinsic in any decision making. All I’m saying is, be aware! Understand that confirmation bias is real and that it can hurt you if you ignore or avoid that awareness.

Do that and the quality of your decision-making may rise to a new and more productive level.