Final answer:
C. Confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is the cognitive tendency to process information by searching for, interpreting, and remembering it in a way that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs and hypotheses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tendency to seek out information that supports existing beliefs is known as confirmation bias. This term refers to our cognitive inclination to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms what we already think is true. A classic demonstration of confirmation bias is seen in the experiments conducted by Peter Wason, where individuals would favor evidence that supported their initial hypothesis and negated evidence that refuted it.
This is a key reason why practicing falsification—actively trying to disprove a belief—is critical in scientific inquiry to avoid the pitfalls of confirmation bias.
Confirmation bias does not just affect our personal beliefs but also can impact our view of events. For instance, in the world of sports, fans may perceive wearing a particular jersey as bringing good luck to their team, remembering victories when the jersey was worn and discounting losses. Such selective recall, influenced by confirmation bias, can lead to the development of superstitious beliefs, demonstrating how confirmation bias shapes not only what we believe but also what we remember.