What is Belief Perseverance?
Belief perseverance, also known as the backfire effect, describes how we continue to hold onto established beliefs even when faced with clear, contradictory evidence. We tend to prioritise our initial conclusions and resist changing our minds, even when it might be in our best interest to do so.
The Impact on Decision-Making
Belief perseverance influences our perception of and interaction with the world around us. When we hold on to a belief despite contradictory evidence, it can shape our thinking, decisions, and actions.
One of the most apparent impacts is on decision-making. Our beliefs act as the foundations upon which we base our choices. If an individual persistently clings to a debunked belief, their judgement can become clouded, leading to decisions that may not be in their best interest.
For instance, someone might continue to support a particular political party, anchored in the belief that certain policies will work, despite evidence showing they won’t.
The Effect on Relationships
Adhering to unfounded beliefs can also affect our relationships. Differences in beliefs are natural, but stubbornly holding on to a false idea can cause friction.
Rigidly adhering to outdated or incorrect beliefs can result in missing out on new and beneficial experiences. On a personal level, holding onto outdated or incorrect beliefs can stifle personal growth, as we ignore new ideas, perspectives, or dismiss developmental feedback.
The Workplace Implications
In a work context, this perseverance in clinging to old beliefs can stifle innovation, impact inclusion, and lead to decisions based on flawed premises.
The Roots of Belief Perseverance
Belief perseverance results from a mixture of four factors:
- Causal Thinking: Encourages us to hold onto our initial explanations for beliefs in our memory.
- Cognitive Dissonance: Makes us uncomfortable when we encounter evidence contradicting our beliefs.
- Confirmation Bias: Propels us to dismiss any contrary evidence to preserve our initial ideas.
- Ego Defence Mechanisms: Sustain our instinct to be correct since we attach our beliefs to our self-identity.
Overcoming Belief Perseverance
Belief perseverance is hard to overcome, but there are some ways to reduce its impact. A starting point is learning about the existence of belief perseverance and its effects.
Overcoming belief perseverance requires us to become more self-aware, curious, humble, brave, and open-minded. It’s about being open to new perspectives and continually questioning our own beliefs to ensure they are supported by facts.
Practical Steps to Challenge Beliefs
We need to seek out opposing views and remain curious for longer. Consider why an opposing belief might be true. Be mindful of clinging to beliefs despite emerging evidence and be willing to course-correct.
Leading by Example
If you lead people, you can set an example for your team by showing them that it’s possible to hold strong beliefs while still being open to new ideas and perspectives.
