He's talking about confirmational bias, the human tendency to only look at evidence that supports your pre-conceived opinions and ignoring evidence that contradicts it. It ties in with cognitive dissonance. Confirmational bias is pretty much universal and very difficult to overcome, but it's worse when there's money involved. Basically, if you've paid for something, or invested your reputation in it, you desperately want it to be true.
He's talking about confirmational bias, the human tendency to only look at evidence that supports your pre-conceived opinions and ignoring evidence that contradicts it. It ties in with cognitive dissonance. Confirmational bias is pretty much universal and very difficult to overcome, but it's worse when there's money involved. Basically, if you've paid for something, or invested your reputation in it, you desperately want it to be true.
kevnar 1 month ago
I saw Ben Goldacre live at Skeptics in the Pub London
benthejrporter 9 months ago
I'm sorry but the guy's voice sent me to sleep by 20 seconds and I never heard the rest.
chrisofnottingham 1 year ago
Hooray for Ben Goldacre!
spinmonkey4401 1 year ago