Belief perseverance, also called the backfire effect, occurs when we hold on to our beliefs even after they are proven wrong. Critical thinking, meaningful reflection, and open-mindedness to a broad array of trustworthy resources can help prevent us from falling into that trap!
It feels like everyone has that friend or weird uncle who clings and clings to a belief even when there are piles of evidence proving it wrong. Perhaps, you have even been that person yourself? Of course you have! We have all done this! This is called belief perseverance, a type of cognitive bias that is pervasive and tricky to overcome.
Belief perseverance, also called the backfire effect, occurs when we hold on to our beliefs despite being presented with clear and verifiable contradictory evidence. This is a super common occurrence. Let’s look at a few examples. Anthony believes he is destined to musical greatness despite clearing out the karaoke bar after every performance. He is certain the crowd just cannot handle his vocal range and raw talent. Emily is a nurse that insists vaccines cause autism, despite oodles of studies demonstrating that there is no link between autism and vaccination. This Nerdy Girl is convinced she is a great cook, even though she could burn water.
Each of these folks is suffering from belief perseverance and likely for different reasons. Belief perseverance helps to preserve an image of ourselves or the world that we find appealing, safe, or comforting. It can prevent us from facing truths we dislike or discomfort us, particularly in times of uncertainty, fear, or stress. It may be emotionally hard for Anthony to realize that his dream of musical stardom is not in the cards (at least without significant work or change!).
Belief perseverance also relies heavily on cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is the psychological unease we feel when we hold two or more conflicting beliefs simultaneously. We all want our actions and behaviors to be consistent with our beliefs and truths in the world. When confronted with something that challenges that, it can be really upsetting. It can be cognitively easier to just discount or ignore that new information, rather than adjust our beliefs or behaviors and face up to that dissonance. Emily may struggle with new data that supports vaccination, because she has already declined this intervention for her child and wants this to feel justified and correct.
Confirmation bias also boosters belief perseverance. Confirmation bias is when we seek out and give more credibility to information that supports what we already believe. Confirmation bias can help ease that cognitive dissonance by focusing on information that aligns with our existing beliefs. This Nerdy Girl might remember that ONE time I successfully made a meal and forget about the gazillion times I ruined foolproof recipes.
How can we help to prevent this from happening to us? Critical thinking, meaningful reflection, and open-mindedness to a broad array of trustworthy resources can help prevent us from falling into that trap!
First, think critically! When faced with new information, don’t just dismiss it! Learn more about it and ask tough questions. Is this reference reliable? Is the basis of this information good? What would it mean to me if this information is true and I was wrong?
Second, expand your information horizons and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Read broadly, engage with people of different perspectives and experiences, and ask questions to understand (not just to defend your beliefs).
And always: Reflect, reflect, and reflect again! Frequently ask yourself why you believe something and if that evidence has changed. If information has changed, probe your emotional response. Do you feel dissonance and discomfort? Why might that be? What could you do about it to ease that discomfort while adapting to new information?
Avoiding belief perseverance is necessary to help us make evidence-informed decisions, practice growth mindsets, and be lifelong learners!
