Believe it or not, we can’t always trust what we see or hear. It seems our memory is influenced by our expectations (Eysenk & Keane, 2015). Confirmation bias is a widely recognized phenomenon and refers to our tendency to seek out evidence in line with our current beliefs and stick to ideas even when the data contradicts them (Lidén, 2023). Indeed, evolutionary and cognitive psychologists agree that we naturally tend to be selective and look for information we already know (Buss, 2016). This article explores this tendency, how it happens, why it matters, and what we can do to get better at recognizing it and reducing its impact. Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive CBT Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will provide you with detailed insight into Positive CBT and give you the tools to apply it in your therapy or coaching.