One of the things that I’ve noticed a lot with this whole COVID-19 situation is how quickly we all fall into our own form of confirmation bias, especially on social media.
In case you don’t know, humans fall for this thing called confirmation bias quite regularly and it is a type of cognitive bias that involves favouring information that confirms your previously existing beliefs.
I think because of the gravity of our current situation it seems to be enhanced somewhat and I have been a victim of it myself.
I’m a knowledge guy. I love to keep searching for more and more knowledge about the subject that I’m currently invested in and I dive deep into the rabbit hole. Right now, that subject is COVID and what it looks like for us over the next few months. I’ve been reading a lot of statistics and reports from other countries and modelling on certain populations. I’ve read a lot about number of beds and how quickly or slowly it spreads depending on certain factors. I have also sat on the side of wanting our country to do more. I want the people to take it more seriously and do the right thing. I want ScoMo to lock down quicker and make tougher decisions as our leader. To save more lives.
There are a few more sides to all of this though.
There are the people that believe it’s only as bad as the flu and we are overreacting. There are some statistics that back this claim but I believe there are plenty that don’t.
There are people that are panicking that it’s the end of the world and that our shops will run out of food and toilet paper and society will collapse. They are following every update from mainstream media and the inflammatory journalism of modern times.
There are people that want to see the economy hold up and as such have less restrictions in place.
There are people who deeply believe this whole thing is a conspiracy. I’ve heard quite a few so I won’t dive into any in particular but I’ve seen a certain video clip from a TV show doing the rounds about a man made virus very similar to this and this has people convinced of it’s validity.
Most people will float somewhere in between all of these but lean into one a bit more.
Now, the tricky thing with confirmation bias is that it creates a funnel for what we consume. We start to follow or like people with the similar beliefs that we have. These follows lead to more videos and articles that confirm that belief and then that leads to another and another and another until it has us convinced that it’s all there is. This belief starts to become our reality.
I’ve tried to write a piece that is unbiased but as I read through it, my view point clearly shows. As you can see, confirmation bias is a very natural tendency and nearly impossible to dispel. What we can do is be more aware of its existence so that we notice when we might be falling into it and give ourselves a chance to swing it around. If we find ourselves delving too deep into a certain thought pattern, we should take a moment to pursue dis confirming information on that topic and broaden our perspective. Purposefully choose to listen and read some opposing views and beliefs.
Who knows, we might even change our minds?
Pursue your potential
Dice
Inspired Lion 
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