When does confirmation bias occur in cognitive psychology?

• A. When individuals make decisions based solely on random chance
• B. When individuals favor information that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses
• C. When individuals ignore all information regardless of its relevance to their beliefs
• D. When individuals seek out information that challenges their current beliefs

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that confirmation bias is a cognitive bias where individuals tend to favor information that supports their preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.
2. Recognize that this bias affects how people gather, interpret, and recall information, often leading them to give more weight to evidence that confirms their views.
3. Identify that confirmation bias does not involve making decisions based on random chance or ignoring all information, but rather selectively focusing on confirming evidence.
4. Note that confirmation bias differs from seeking out information that challenges beliefs, which is actually a way to reduce bias and improve decision-making.
5. Conclude that confirmation bias occurs specifically when individuals favor information that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses.