What is a cognitive bias? We have it all the time, unaware. It's a subconscious tendency to think in a certain way, a bias, if you will, toward thinking along certain pathways with resultant illogical perceptual distortions, inaccurate judgments, and illusory correlations. It's closely related to confirmation bias in many cases. We all too often seek a preferred pathway of thought that is most reassuring and pacifying. Do we as adults really need pacifiers? Are we not strong enough to think independently? Surely.

We always test our own theories, usually with a closed mind, and ignore alternative possibilities we fear are different than what we want to believe as true. An example? Take an astrologer or tarot card reader – they use a technique known as “cold reading,” which relies heavily on confirmation bias. The “psychic” tosses out many statements (or “evidences”), knowing the human brain is very good at pattern recognition and cannot help but to draw inferences (remembering all the “hits,” and none of the “misses”), so the victim unknowingly dupes themselves and searches out connections that seem to confirm the “psychic’s” reading. Then afterwards the unfortunate person vastly overestimates the accuracy of the reading, not in the least bit recognizing the high probability of some guesses (ie: “how many of you know someone whose name starts with the letter “m”). Now I don't want to pick on victims of astrology (NOT to be confused with astronomy) or tarot-card readers too much because we all fall prey to stupidity more often than we care to admit, but I do wish to stress here the importance of independent thought. Think for yourself. Be strong. Test your own conceptions.

Remember, you can get outside and explore this great world if you're firmly grounded in your values. You'll find yourself living out your values (which often make decisions for you) more often than not. The only way you know if you truly cherish something is if you make it a part of your life. Do you really love your neighbor as yourself? Beliefs, insofar as they are expressed in words, do not always reveal the true intentions of the mind. Be the change you claim you want to see in others. Walk it out. I did. You can see what others have to offer without prejudging them prior to your rational investigation. And never be judgmental, be curious.