"An idyllic scene, painted by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, might be a way to view confirmation bias as reflected in society today. Romantics see this painting as the peaceful scene of a young lady enjoying a playful time. She appears to be flirting with a suitor, perhaps her young lover. He is hiding in the bushes, peeking under her bloomers. Cynics taking a closer look uncover a darker scene at another corner of the painting."
"In 2024, Richard Born wrote "Stop Fooling Yourself! Diagnosing and Treating Confirmation Bias," which he defined as "a cognitive bias that allows us to fool ourselves by selectively filtering data and distorting analyses to support favored beliefs or hypotheses." During political unrest, we might see an administration trying to keep the peace, or conversely, wreaking havoc in communities. If it appears that there are two sides to the story, which is accurate?"
An idyllic painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard serves as a metaphor for confirmation bias, showing how observers can see either a playful flirtation or a darker cuckolded scene. Both liberal and conservative thinkers may interpret events to match their existing beliefs. Confirmation bias is defined as selectively filtering data and distorting analyses to support favored hypotheses. During political unrest, perceptions about whether authorities maintain peace or cause harm can diverge along partisan lines. Eyewitness recording and testimony can be influenced by preconceived notions, though improved methods and analyses have increased initial eyewitness reliability in many cases.
Read at Psychology Today
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