Have you ever Googled your medical symptoms?
It rarely ends well. Usually we end up like the character in Three Men in a Boat who pores over a medical dictionary and concludes that he’s suffering from every complaint listed in it – with the exception of Housemaid’s Knee.
These days we may be compulsively scrolling through WebMD and often our worst suspicions are fuelled.
The reason for that may well be confirmation bias, which is our human tendency to search for or interpret information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs and values.
When we Google a symptom, it’s often because we fear the worst. We are therefore drawn to and are more likely to interpret information in a way that confirms our suspicion that we are really ill. We may ignore or downplay evidence to the contrary.
Confirmation bias affects all areas of our lives – from our political beliefs to the way we interact on social media. If you’re an investment professional you’ll definitely have seen its impact on your clients’ investment decisions.
Wi-Ai tools can help your customers understand and take ownership of their biases, allowing them to focus more clearly on important decisions.
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