Confirmation Bias

Confirmation Bias - EJP Nutrition

Are you searching for information to back up the position you’ve already set on, or want to take? This is confirmation bias in action.

It’s all too common in the fitness and nutrition sphere. Cherry picked data, taken out of context to reinforce a claim (or sell a book!). Ignoring new information, as it contradicts someone’s existing brand. This is why we need to question what we’re told.

Does the person giving the information have a vested interest in making you believe them? If their user name is KetoKaren or VeganVictoria, they probably aren’t objective as they’ve tied their identity to one viewpoint.

Also one thing can be true, without it meaning something else follows. For example I was asked if someone “needed” to get iron from meat, as non-heme iron (found in plants) has lower bioavailability. Yes, the iron in animal sources you absorb more of. But you can absolutely get enough iron from a vegetarian diet.

Why look for balanced information if it challenges my current position or lifestyle? If I didn’t want to remove meat from my diet, reading I “need” it for iron might be justification to not make changes. This is one example (for the record I do eat meat, but less than I used to). I use it here as it’s a topic people feel strongly about which can lead to over-selling an argument to try and convince you they’re right.

Question what is a person gaining from changing your mind? Are they so set on doing so, they will mislead you in the process? When I make posts I’m not selling anything, I don’t get paid. I’m providing information which you have the choice to consider, question or dismiss.

Try to become aware of your own biases, and we all have them. Then keep a check on yourself. One way to do this is seek the opposite of what you want to confirm, and try to prove your bias wrong. In the image I mention my love of coffee. Rather than seeking out studies that show yes coffee is awesome, look for how might it be bad!

Depending on what you’re looking into, your confirmation bias may end up as being right. But you shouldn’t assume that, or disregard information that doesn’t fit your narrative. At worse, from questioning it you’ll get a better understanding of opposing viewpoints.