Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, and recall information in a way that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses, while giving less attention to information that contradicts them.
Investment decisions (seeking out positive articles about a stock already owned). Medical self-diagnosis (noticing symptoms that match the feared diagnosis). Performance management (interpreting an employee's work through the lens of a prior negative impression). Political and media consumption (preferring sources that confirm existing views).
Actively seek out the strongest version of the opposing argument (steelmanning, not strawmanning). Ask: 'What would convince me I am wrong?' before deciding. Use structured decision frameworks that require explicit consideration of alternatives. Have someone whose disagreement you respect review significant decisions.