It’s a psychological mechanism in which we tend to seek, interpret, and even recall information that confirms our preexisting beliefs, disregarding those that challenge them. This phenomenon affects all areas of our lives, from the way we make decisions to how we interact with people around us.

We set out to deeply understand this concept and develop mechanisms that can help circumvent it. Throughout this article, we will unravel the mysteries of confirmation bias, explore its everyday consequences and impacts, and show how clinical hypnosis can be a useful tool for dealing with this phenomenon.

If you are interested in working to help people through clinical hypnosis or are just curious about the human mind, this article is for you. Grab a cup of coffee and get ready for a fascinating and enlightening read.

Unraveling Confirmation Bias: What It Is and How It Works

When dealing with the complexity of human behavior, we encounter a series of mechanisms that affect our perception and judgment. One of these mechanisms is “confirmation bias”, a psychological phenomenon consisting of the tendency to seek and give more credibility to information that confirms our pre-existing ideas and beliefs while ignoring or discarding data that contradicts our convictions.

Once we identify a line of thought that corresponds to our selective beliefs, we tend to cling to it. We then seek everything that can confirm this view and ignore what might deny it. It’s as if our brain works with a filter, highlighting only the information that favors us.

This cognitive bias is a form of self-affirmation. Between admitting a variation in our way of thinking and resisting any change, we usually opt for resistance. After all, changes can be uncomfortable and challenging.

By understanding how it works, we create the basis for questioning our certainties and adopting a more open stance. Recognizing this phenomenon is an important step towards exercising critical thinking and avoiding the formation of limiting beliefs.

How does it work in practice?

Imagine you read in an article that consuming a certain food can bring certain health benefits. From that moment on, your brain will seek other information that confirms this statement, and it is very likely that when you find a text that says the opposite, you will disregard it.

This bias influences our decision-making and the way we perceive the world around us. Even if unconscious, this tendency has a significant impact on various aspects of our lives, from our personal choices to our professional practice.

Consequences and Impacts of Confirmation Bias in Our Daily Lives

Confirmation bias is much more than a simple obstacle to the truth. It directly affects our lives, shaping our beliefs and attitudes, and consequently, our decisions and behaviors.

Let’s think about health. If someone is misinformed that vaccines are unsafe, this person may choose not to vaccinate, putting themselves and others at risk.

Now, you might be wondering: “And what does confirmation bias have to do with this?” It’s simple: it pushes us towards sources of information that confirm our pre-existing beliefs and away from those that challenge them.

Confirmation Bias as a Barrier to Innovation

Even in the professional field, confirmation bias can be dangerous. In the increasingly competitive world we live in, innovation and creativity are keys to success. However, if we are stuck in our own prejudices, we may not be able to see the potential of new ideas, as they diverge from our beliefs and personal perspectives.

The Toxic Version of Ourselves

Last but not least, confirmation bias can lead us to be the most toxic version of ourselves. When we surround ourselves only with opinions similar to ours and avoid confronting opposing opinions, we create a “bubble” that does not allow us to grow and evolve as individuals. Therefore, it is important to avoid confirmation bias.

The Relationship Between Confirmation Bias, Fake News, and Hypnosis

We might be wondering: how does confirmation bias relate to fake news and clinical hypnosis? The answer lies in how it can be manipulated.

In a world increasingly connected by digital means, a high volume of information is shared daily. Often, we fall into the trap of trusting fake news simply because it confirms what we already believe. This is confirmation bias in action!

Similarly, clinical hypnosis can be used to help us understand and question these biases. But beware: hypnosis must be applied ethically and responsibly, always considering the individual context of each person. No change is sustainable if not made with the full awareness and acceptance of the individual.

In summary, confirmation bias, fake news, and hypnosis are intertwined in complex ways. Manipulating our beliefs through the abuse of our confirmation bias can have harmful effects. However, when used ethically and consciously, clinical hypnosis can be a powerful tool to dismantle these biases and promote more robust mental health.

How to Recognize and Avoid Confirmation Bias

To effectively deal with confirmation bias, it is crucial to accept that we all, as human beings, have a tendency towards it. That is, we naturally seek to confirm our beliefs and ignore information that contests them. Clinical hypnosis can play a key role in this process of self-awareness and mental flexibility.

Recognize Your Tendency to Bias

Firstly, you need to recognize your susceptibility to bias. Biased interpretation can be understood as a natural characteristic of the human mind, not a personal flaw. Asking for other people’s opinions on your decisions is also a good way to avoid this bias trap.

Seek Contradictory Information

Encouraging yourself to seek evidence that contradicts your beliefs is an important step. Strive to listen and reflect on viewpoints different from your own. This will give you greater confidence in the decisions and actions you take.

Make Use of Clinical Hypnosis

Clinical hypnosis serves as a viable tool to confront confirmation bias. It can help expand mental flexibility and reduce the tendency to seek, interpret, and remember information that confirms our preconceived ideas.

Remember that changing this tendency does not happen overnight. It requires time, practice, and patience. And clinical hypnosis can be a great ally in this journey of personal and professional growth.

How Can Hypnosis Help Overcome It?

Clinical hypnosis professionals can use techniques that aim to minimize the impact of confirmation bias in their therapeutic approaches. But how? Firstly, it’s important to remember that hypnosis favors focused attention. In a state of hypnosis, the person generally has the ability to focus their energies and think more critically.

When a client arrives at the clinic with thoughts dominated by confirmation bias, the hypnotherapist can work to address these tendencies. The practice involves creating a safe therapeutic space where the client’s beliefs can be questioned without fear.

Clinical hypnosis can provide the opportunity to challenge preconceived ideas, helping the client see beyond the information that confirms their existing beliefs. Through the induction of full awareness, hypnosis can lead to flexibility of thought.

Think of it as mental training, where the client learns to examine information more objectively, think from different perspectives, and question assumptions. By gaining greater awareness of how the bias operates, the client can, over time, learn to reduce the potency of its effects.

Therefore, by introducing these techniques, the hypnotherapist can become a source of enlightening support for clients struggling against the behavioral impact of confirmation bias.

Combating Confirmation Bias in the Context of Clinical Hypnosis

In the field of clinical hypnosis, “confirmation bias” can be both a challenge and an opportunity. As therapists, we need to be aware of our own biases, as they can influence the therapeutic process. The need for self-awareness and constant learning becomes evident.

Our bias can affect the way we interpret the information patients give us, leading us to make unfounded assumptions. And how to deal with this?

• Firstly, seek continuous training. The pursuit of knowledge about hypnosis practices helps in understanding the therapeutic process globally and helps us remain open to exploring different perspectives.
• Secondly, seek clinical supervision. Working with a colleague or mentor can offer valuable insight and perspective, allowing us to question our own beliefs and assumptions, overcoming our ‘confirmation bias’.

Hypnosis, as a starting point, can help us broaden the patient’s awareness of their own biases. Using relaxation and suggestion techniques, we can encourage patients to consider new ways of viewing their situations. In this way, hypnosis can be a valuable tool for challenging our patients’ beliefs and promoting change.

Understanding these tendencies is essential for any therapist, becoming a challenge to be regularly overcome in the clinical context. However, the commitment to ethical practice and continuous learning turns what can be an obstacle into a great opportunity.

Conclusion

Understanding confirmation bias and its implications is fundamental in our journey to become better professionals and more informed and balanced individuals.

Confirmation bias can manifest in various ways in our daily and professional lives, including in our practice as hypnotherapists. Understanding this is the first step to circumventing its possible adverse effects and enhancing our ability to help our patients.

By applying the rule of not judging hastily and constantly questioning the origin of our thoughts and beliefs, we have the opportunity to keep our clinical judgment as impartial and effective as possible. With these strategies, we can minimize its effects, contributing to a more effective and reality-based practice of science and clinical hypnosis.

If you are interested in this subject and have the ambition to become a better professional in the field of clinical hypnosis, we recommend that you explore the training and postgraduate courses in evidence-based hypnosis offered by the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis. Click here to explore the available options and start enhancing your skills today.

We hope this article has provided you with an in-depth look at confirmation bias and its relevance to the practice of clinical hypnosis. Ultimately, the true goal is always to provide the best possible care to our patients, and overcoming our biases is a fundamental step in this process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can hypnosis really help overcome confirmation bias?

Yes, it is possible. Clinical hypnosis has been used as a therapeutic tool to help individuals overcome various obstacles, including cognitive biases. Hypnosis techniques allow exploration of the subconscious, potentially unveiling and restructuring thought patterns.

Is there any relationship between Fake News and confirmation bias?

Certainly, the spread of Fake News benefits from this phenomenon. People tend to believe and share information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs, even if this information is not true.

What are the main consequences of confirmation bias in our daily lives?

Confirmation bias can lead to biased decisions, as we tend to seek, interpret, and prioritize information that confirms our previous beliefs and ideas, ignoring any opposing information. This can affect various areas of our lives, such as personal decisions, business, and even our mental health.

Who is most affected by confirmation bias?

We are all vulnerable to confirmation bias, as it is a natural tendency of the human brain. However, some people may be more susceptible, especially if they are not aware of the existence of this bias or how it impacts our thought processes.

How can I prevent confirmation bias?

First, it is important to recognize the existence of confirmation bias and understand its impact on our lives. From there, re-educating our mindset is essential, always seeking to keep an open mind to new information, even if contrary to our beliefs. Additionally, clinical hypnosis can be an ally in combating it.