Selective perception

Selective perception is a cognitive bias that involves focusing on information that confirms existing beliefs while ignoring information that contradicts them. This phenomenon falls under the category of Information overload, where individuals are faced with vast amounts of data and selectively filter it, often unconsciously, leading to reinforcement of pre-existing notions.

How it works

Selective perception operates through a mental filtering process where individuals absorb information that aligns with their beliefs and disregard, downplay, or misinterpret data that challenges these beliefs. This cognitive shortcut helps individuals manage overwhelming information by filtering out 'noise' that is seen as irrelevant, thus allowing them to maintain consistent views without cognitive dissonance.

Examples

In political contexts, individuals may focus on news stories that confirm their political ideologies, while ignoring sources that offer contradictory viewpoints.
A sports fan might primarily notice and remember refereeing decisions that favor their team while dismissing or forgetting calls that benefit the opposing team.
In a workplace setting, a manager convinced of an employee's incompetence may only 'see' the employee's mistakes and overlook instances of successful performance.

Consequences

Selective perception can reinforce stereotypes, contributing to polarization and inhibiting open dialogue. In decision-making, it may lead to suboptimal outcomes because important information is ignored. Organizations may continue on a failing path if decision-makers selectively perceive data that supports prior strategies.

Counteracting

Individuals can counter selective perception by actively seeking diverse viewpoints and engaging with data that challenges their beliefs. Critical thinking, fostering environments that encourage open dialogue, and training in awareness of cognitive biases can also mitigate this effect.

Critiques

Critics of the concept argue that selective perception can oversimplify complex decision-making processes by attributing them to a single bias. Others suggest that what appears as selective perception might be valid discernment based on experience and expertise.

Fields of Impact

Psychology & Social Science

Economics & Finance

Political Science & Public Policy

Also known as

Confirmation bias

Belief bias

Cognitive filtering

Relevant Research

Biased Assimilation and Attitude Polarization: The Effects of Prior Theories on Subsequently Considered Evidence.
Lord, C. G., Ross, L., & Lepper, M. R. (1979)
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37(11), 2098–2109
Confirmation Bias: A Ubiquitous Phenomenon in Many Guises.
Nickerson, R. S. (1998)
Review of General Psychology, 2(2), 175-220
Social Psychology (3rd ed.).
Eliot R. Smith & Diane M. Mackie (2006)
Chapter on Cognitive Dissonance and Selective Exposure

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