confirmation bias

Definition

The tendency to seek out and interpret information that confirms existing beliefs while ignoring contradictory evidence, especially prevalent in political discourse. The psychological phenomenon that explains why your uncle's Facebook posts get worse every year.

Example Usage

Both sides accused each other of confirmation bias while exclusively sharing articles from partisan sources that validated their worldview.

Origin

Psychological term coined by English psychologist Peter Wason in the 1960s

Fun Fact

Social media algorithms actively exploit confirmation bias, creating echo chambers that make political polarization profitable for tech companies

Source: Political psychology and behavioral science terminology

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