Belief perseverance (also known as conceptual conservatism) is the persistence of a belief in the face of new information that strongly contradicts it. It can be a major impediment to critical thinking and open-mindedness. Such beliefs may even be reinforced when others try to disprove them, a phenomenon known as the backfire effect (compare boomerang effect). People who are emotionally invested in their beliefs or have a strong attachment to a specific ideology may engage in motivated reasoning, seeking out information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs while dismissing or ignoring information that challenges them.
Journalist Cari Romm, for example, describes a study involving vaccination hesitancy in a 2014 article in The Atlantic. The subjects in the study expressed their concerns about the side effects of flu shots. They became even less eager to accept the vaccination after being assured that it was completely safe. This new information made them even more skeptical of the vaccine, reinforcing their previous beliefs.
Several factors contribute to belief perseverance, including:
- Cognitive dissonance: People may experience discomfort or cognitive dissonance when faced with conflicting information, leading them to defend their original beliefs to reduce this discomfort.
- Confirmation bias: The tendency to seek out information that confirms existing beliefs and filter out information that contradicts them.
- Selective exposure: People may avoid exposure to opposing viewpoints to protect their existing beliefs from being challenged.
- Emotional reasoning: Emotions can play a significant role in belief perseverance. People may hold onto beliefs that elicit positive emotions or align with their identity and values.
Belief perseverance is a cognitive bias in which people tend to hold on to their beliefs or opinions despite contradictory evidence or persuasive arguments. It occurs when a person maintains a particular belief in the face of information that challenges or contradicts that belief. This bias can lead to a refusal to change one’s views or opinions, even when confronted with compelling evidence that their initial belief was incorrect.
Overcoming belief perseverance necessitates a deliberate effort to be open-minded, critically evaluate evidence, and be willing to change one’s beliefs in response to new information. Engaging in constructive debate with others who hold opposing viewpoints, seeking diverse perspectives, and being aware of cognitive biases can all help to reduce the influence of belief perseverance.
