why we're opinionated (or everything you know is wrong!)

[dragonyphoenix]

Ah, this explains why people who disagree with me can never be convinced that I'm right and they're wrong! “Confirmation bias: We tend to remember evidence that confirms our beliefs or decisions, and ignore or belittle evidence that goes against them. It was recently shown that the brain seems to be wired this way. A study of the brain using new technology showed that the thinking areas practically shut down when people were made to listen to information that contradicted their political beliefs. Conversely, when they heard information that tended to confirm their beliefs, the happiness centers of the brain lit up.” from Rewire by Richard O'Connor

;-)

Comments

[snogged.livejournal.com]

That makes sense.

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

It really does.

[the-emu.livejournal.com]

If that tickles you, I highly recommend the book 'The Invisible Gorilla and other ways our intuition deceives us' by Chabris and Simons. It's about all the small illusions we have about how we see, think, remember, and make up our minds. It's really light-hearted, funny reading, but it will blow your mind.

They're the guys who invented this famous experiment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo

8^-

[dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I do love this kind of stuff. And thanks for the vid link also. I'd heard of this film but never seen it. and I can see how it would be easy to miss the gorilla now!