Confirmation Bias

Today, we’re talking about the Confirmation Bias.

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favour, and recall information in ways that align with one’s preexisting beliefs or assumptions. Essentially, people are drawn to information that reinforces their preconceived notions while disregarding evidence that challenges them.

Imagine someone who believes they are a natural-born dancer. When watching videos of professional dancers, they focus only on moments where the dancers stumble or appear awkward, using these instances to validate their belief that anyone can dance well without formal training. At the same time, they overlook the immense amount of practice and dedication those professionals have invested to reach their current level of expertise.

This is a clear example of confirmation bias: the person selectively seeks out information that supports their belief while ignoring evidence—such as the need for continuous training—that contradicts it.

It reminds me of the saying: "Amateurs practise until they get it right, but professionals practise until they can’t get it wrong." What may appear as a mistake could simply be a deliberate artistic choice, and something that looks awkward might be intentional. Similarly, it’s like when you buy a new car and suddenly notice many others driving the same model. The car was always there, but now your awareness has changed, reinforcing the illusion that it’s more popular than before.

As dancers—and in life—it’s essential to stay open to external feedback, even when it conflicts with our preconceptions. Being receptive to new perspectives allows us to grow, refine our skills, and avoid becoming trapped in our own limited beliefs.

To sum it up:

Confirmation bias can limit personal and professional development by filtering out valuable insights. The key to progress lies in balancing our inner convictions with the willingness to embrace feedback, even when it challenges what we thought we knew. This openness helps us evolve not just as dancers, but as individuals.