Final answer:
Vivian's behavior is best described by confirmation bias, which is the tendency to favor information that aligns with one's existing beliefs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vivian's behavior of seeking out conversations with those who share her opinions and discrediting others by labeling them as novices can best be described as confirmation bias. This cognitive bias involves the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs and opinions. While cognitive dissonance refers to the discomfort felt when holding contradictory beliefs, and groupthink is the practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages individual responsibility, neither of these terms adequately describe Vivian's behavior. Belief perseverance is the persistence of one's beliefs in the face of contrary evidence, and while related, the key aspect of Vivian's behavior is her preference for information and opinions that support her own, which is most characteristic of confirmation bias.