Confirmation bias can have profound effects upon our understanding of reality, thereby impacting our pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.
In our daily routines within the framework of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete, it is important that we implement and apply emerging information so that we can maintain an up-to-date understanding of the underlying principles. This will then impact our strategies and tactics. In order to ensure to the greatest degree possible that the information we are utilizing and basing our decision making upon is as reflective of current understanding and reality it is important to reduce as much as possible the impact of cognitive biases.
Cognitive biases can be considered to be aspects within our thinking which provide a systematic deviation from that which could be considered to be reflective of reality and the truth. Specifically, confirmation bias relates to situations in which we seek out only that information and evidence which is supportive of our preconceived notions. This may be intentional or subconscious. By its very definition, it is readily apparent how this can limit our pursuit of that which is true on account of an inability to consider new information as well as alternate explanations and responses.
In many respects, confirmation bias readily leads to a situation in which we can only consider that data and information which is supportive of our pre-existing beliefs and opinions. It is therefore axiomatic that such a bias will limit our ability to pursue truth and to grow. The objectives of understanding reality, improving, and growing are necessarily dependent upon considering new information such that we are able to either strengthen our pre-existing opinions if the data supports this or adjust and update our opinions if that is the direction the data takes us.
Given that the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete are evidence-driven and scientifically based, it is important that we limit to the greatest degree possible confirmation bias as we seek to implement new and emerging information. In order to accomplish this task, it becomes important to first understand the biological basis for confirmation bias so that we can implement strategies and tactics to better manage it.
When we consider the emerging attributes of activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, and shutdown states a commonality relates to our thinking and decision making being protective and defensive in nature. As discussed throughout this article series, this is an adaptive response which evolutionarily speaking correlated with an increased likelihood for survival. As it pertains to emerging research and information, however, our biological wiring has not yet evolved to the point of our current modern day society in which survival is not as uncertain. As such our biology frequently shifts into protective and defensive states in situations in which it may not be necessary. Such a circumstance exists when we are presented with information which may challenge or contradict our preconceived opinions and ideas.
When considering the biological states within the framework of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete, we can recognize how confirmation bias may emerge from activated, attacking, anxious, overwhelmed, and shutdown states on account of the emerging attributes of these states. Our psychological and physical traits tend to reflect protective and defensive perspectives from these states. This coincides strongly with the emergence of confirmation bias. Conversely, when we consider the emerging attributes regarding anchored and grounded states, we can recognize how confirmation bias decreases significantly. Within these states, we are more open to new ideas and concepts and demonstrate greater degrees of mental agility.
With this understanding in mind, we can readily appreciate how an effective strategy in the management of confirmation bias is to first identify our existing biological state and then shift towards anchored and grounded states through implementation of mind-based and body-based skills. In addition, when we notice a higher degree of confirmation bias, this can be an indicator of our underlying biological state. As such, the existence of confirmation bias is both a manifestation of our underlying biological state as well as an identifying feature of it.
From the perspective described by Suzuki in his classic book Zen Mind, Beginners Mind, it is preferable to maintain an open mind as much as possible. This relates to the outlook of a beginner in any particular field who is more likely to consider all possibilities and alternatives. In contrast, an expert tends to rely too strongly on existing knowledge and opinions and is less responsive to emerging information. Often as we develop expertise within a given subject matter, it can become easy to fall into confirmation bias when presented with information which may contradict what we believe to be true. Furthermore, we may seek to only identify that information which is consistent with our pre-existing beliefs, thereby limiting our ability to deepen our understanding of a given topic and to grow by considering alternate ideas and explanations.
It can be easily appreciated how the emergence of confirmation bias can be a significant impediment across all aspects of our life. Implementing current and evolving information is important in our pursuit of health and wellbeing. It is also a vital component to growth and increasing our capacity in our pursuit of sustainable high performance. As confirmation bias inherently reduces our ability to consider, understand, and implement new and emerging information, it is a clear obstacle to the application of new ideas and perspectives which can contribute to the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance.
Across all aspects of our life, it is therefore beneficial to develop the capacity to identify when confirmation bias is emerging and implement tactics as discussed above to manage it. It is also important to consider that the existence of confirmation bias is not static. On account of its emergence from the underlying biological states, it is dynamic and is not of a similar magnitude at all times across our life. This is similar with other sources of cognitive biases, as well as all of the attributes which emerge from the various biological states.
In the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance it is essential that we limit the impact of confirmation bias. When we are able to successfully do so we are able to identify, understand, and implement new and emerging information which can be contributory towards our pursuits within the framework of the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete. If we are unable to do so, it becomes easy to become stuck in our current level of understanding and performance as we are unable to grow and improve through the application of new and emerging information.
To learn more, including about polyvagal informed coaching for healthcare professionals and others in high demand domains, please visit www.darindavidson.com.
Dr. Darin Davidson partners with Learner+, a CME/CE reflective learning platform for healthcare providers. For the opportunity to reflect on this article and earn CME/CE credits, Launch here. Check out all past articles which are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits.
For downloadable, actionable strategies and tactics to leverage biology in the pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance, visit the resource store, Launch here. Chapters are arranged by topic so those of interest can be selected and each are also eligible for reflections and CME/CE credits through Learner+.
REFERENCE
Suzuki S. Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice. Boulder, CO: Shambhala Pulications, Inc, 1970.