People often test hypotheses about the way the world works by seeking evidence that supports their beliefs. This tendency is known as _____.

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Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs and hypotheses, while ignoring or downplaying contradictory evidence. This bias can lead to errors in reasoning and decision-making. Illusory correlations refer to the false perception of a relationship between two variables, while mental sets refer to the tendency to approach problem-solving in a rigid, inflexible way based on past experiences. The conjunction fallacy refers to the mistaken belief that the conjunction of two events (e.g. Linda is a bank teller and feminist) is more probable than one of the events alone (e.g. Linda is a bank teller).

People Often Test Hypotheses About the Way the World Works