Many of us like to believe that our opinions have been formed over time by careful, rational consideration of facts and ideas, and that the decisions based on those opinions, therefore, have the ring of soundness and intelligence.
In the real world, we often base our opinions on our beliefs, which can have an uneasy relationship with facts. And rather than facts driving beliefs, our beliefs can dictate the facts we chose to accept. They can cause us to twist facts so they fit better with our preconceived notions. Worst of all, they can lead us to uncritically accept bad information just because it reinforces our beliefs. This reinforcement makes us more confident we’re right, and even less likely to listen to any new information. This effect is only heightened by the information glut, which offers — alongside an unprecedented amount of good information — endless rumors, misinformation, and questionable variations on the truth.
In other words, it’s never been easier for people to be wrong, and at the same time feel more certain that they’re right. The “I know I’m right” syndrome, is a potentially formidable problem in a democratic system. It suggests not only that most people will resist correcting their factual beliefs, but also that the very people who most need to correct them will be least likely to do so. Analysts have termed this as “motivated reasoning.”
Whether or not the consistent information is accurate, we might accept it as fact, as confirmation of our beliefs. This makes us more confident in said beliefs, and even less likely to entertain facts that contradict them.
WOFFWATCHER
