What does the term "confirmation bias" refer to?

The term "confirmation bias" specifically refers to the tendency for individuals to favor information that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses. This cognitive bias leads people to seek out, interpret, and remember information in a way that supports their preconceptions while potentially ignoring or undervaluing evidence that might contradict those beliefs.

For instance, if someone believes a particular political viewpoint, they may only pay attention to news stories that support that viewpoint and dismiss those that present opposing perspectives. This bias can significantly impact decision-making processes and the way individuals gather and assess information, as it reinforces their current beliefs and can lead to a distorted understanding of reality.

Other options reflect concepts that do not fully capture the essence of confirmation bias. For instance, the idea of changing one's beliefs based on new evidence demonstrates an openness to adjusting one's views, which stands in contrast to confirmation bias. A neutral stance in evaluating new information implies an unbiased perspective, which also diverges from the selective nature of confirmation bias. Disregarding evidence in decision-making does not specifically illustrate the preference for confirming information but rather points to a lack of consideration for all available data.