If you want to believe, then you will
Let’s say that you purchase a new vehicle every 3 years and
alternate between Ford and Chevy.
Let’s also assume that you believe the quality differences between the 2 are negligible.
Let’s also assume that you believe that sticking with one brand will save you money.
You have the desire to believe that one brand is best.
You arbitrarily pick Ford.
If you want to believe that Ford is the best, eventually you will come to that belief.
Because of Anchor Bias, it will take much more effort to change your belief to Chevy.
Even if someone gave you unarguable evidence of Chevy’s superiority,
you will still be anchored in the Ford belief.
Because of Confirmation Bias, you will also see patterns of Ford’s superiority
ignore patterns of Chevy’s superiority.
You Can’t Choose What You Believe, Well, Sort Of
If you somehow had a strong belief that Ford was better than Chevy
that belief cannot be changed immediately, even if you wanted that belief.
If a Chevy dealer hooked you up to a perfect lie detector and then said
if you believe Chevy is better, you win this new ZR1 Corvette
you would not win the Corvette.
But, if that dealer said you can take the test in 2 months then
you could achieve that belief by spending the next 2 months reading
positive articles on Chevy and negative ones on Ford.
With particular actions and particular echo chambers
you could achieve any belief.
If you seek God or Jesus, you will find Him
Many religions implore people to seek their beliefs in order to achieve those beliefs.
Once that belief gets anchored some experience the “Holy Spirit” which validates their belief.
Conversion into religion is often quick and emotionally driven.
Deconversion takes more time, months or years, and is driven by critical thinking.
Conversions happen when people read religious text with emotion, like a love letter.
Deconversions happen when people read religious text with objectivity
Slow critical reading of the Bible and the Quran are a part of many atheists origin stories.
It is difficult to seek truth when carrying baggage of cognitive biases.
Bias from faith
The 1st half of Hebrew 11:1, biblical definition of faith is
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for”
which is to establish belief in something that you hope for, desire.
So rather than believe in something that is true regardless of desirability
some believe because they want to.
Ford Child Indoctrination
What if your father put in man loyal years of service at the GM plant and was laid off.
All of your life you hear disparaging remarks about Chevy and praise of Ford.
This Ford indoctrination sets up an Anchor bias for Ford and against Chevy.
You would face evidence that Ford is not better with rationalizations.
You then to go an out-of-town college that is not sponsored by the automotive industry.
With much reflection on why you believe Ford is better you can reduce biases.
