The tendency to believe sources MORE when carrying information about an individual involved in a trust-destroying event than when the same individual is involved in a trustbuilding event is an example of the confirmation bias only if
A) Our prior hypothesis was that the individual was more prone to build trust than to destroy trust.
B) Our prior hypothesis was that the individual was more prone to destroy trust than to build trust.
C) Our prior hypothesis was that the source was reliable.
D) Our prior hypothesis was that the source was unreliable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. If our prior hypothesis was that the individual was more prone to destroy trust, then believing sources more when they carry information about the individual involved in a trust-destroying event (and less so in a trust-building event) aligns with and confirms our preexisting belief, exemplifying confirmation bias.

The Tendency to Believe Sources MORE When Carrying Information About