M.

Bushi
Effects of Belief Perseverance


The perseverance of belief is a strong impulse that is not easily deterred, not even in the face of
contrary, factual information are some individuals able to reassess their original beliefs and modify
them. They are more likely to continue to pursue their initial belief, and for the sake of its survival,
pursue methods that continue to conrm that belief. The effects of belief perseverance are prolic,
producing such conditions as false judgment in the face of grievous accountability, stereotyping that
leads to bigotry, and the blind, detrimental belief that all things are somehow connected.

The order in which information is provided can be biasing, producing a long-lasting impression, a belief
formulated from the digestion of information fed to the recipient in a specic order. This belief can
become unconquerable, even when faced with clashing information. In an example where individuals
were provided information regarding a murder case, such that the evidence for the defense was
presented rst, the criminals where more likely to be found not guilty. The reverse is true in similar
circumstances where the evidence for the prosecution is provided rst, and the criminals were more
likely to be found guilty (Rossmo 832). Here the order of the presentation of information contributes to
outcome of the decisions. There then must be a cognitive connection to the way information is
remembered and recalled as part of a future decision process: the formulation of an opinion, a belief.
However, in the same example if these individuals are informed that there are consequences for, or
against, their decisions reect a deeper decision making process which counters their earlier rst
impression bias. Here the belief doesnt persevere. Unfortunately in most decisions, there isnt an
accountability concern that counters our initial belief. We continue on with our impression based on the
initial information we receive and then continue with our belief in the face of contradiction. (Tetlock 286)
This same process serves to be more severe, when the beliefs are stronger, built from years of
reinforcement, handed down by generations, and where even in the face of grievous accountability, the
loss of a life, they serve still to defy the perception of fact.

Belief perseverance may lead a decision maker to focus on the present without reecting on possible
alternative outcomes, going as far as to see order in almost anything and somehow perceiving that all
things are connected (Gilovich 185). An all too common example, are those with arthritis, who
complain that when the weather becomes cold or changes dramatically, their arthritis becomes more
difcult to manage. There have been many studies that have concluded that there is no connection
between weather and arthritic inammation, despite any belief of the contrary. This example
demonstrates what is called an illusory correlation, where two unrelated concepts (variables) have no
real connection, yet are believed to be directly connected and are the basis of new invalid belief. This
type of false connective relies on our desire for all things to be connected in some way. This belief
preservers in the face of the evidence from factual studies or from the consultation of a physician. An
extreme example of illusory correlation as it relates to the perseverance of beliefs, is its use as the
basis that individuals are different because of their race, the color of their skin, or their gender. Where
these human features somehow share a correlation or connection to other completely unconnected
variables, such as laziness, ignorance, criminality, and other vague, socially negative, human
conditions (Hamilton et. al. 392). This effect of belief perseverance is damaging to society and to
humanity as a whole, though it remains a nearly unconquerable belief structure built from persistent
false perceptions as seen through the illusion of connectivity.

Improving everyday reasoning through the educating-away of belief bias or the ubiquitous use of
commiserate accountability, seems impractical given the human tendency to cling to strong, over-
simplied beliefs, ranging from the desire to regard everything that happens to us as somehow
controllable and connected, to only wanting to manage ideas in the contrast of black and white and not
providing for any shades of gray. These tendencies are obviously narrow and shortsighted, allowing for
the spread of indefensible beliefs that have persevered through generations; their perseverance
continues to deliver effects that are grievous, and detrimental to society, lessening the quality of human
interaction and the formation of real human connectivity.

Works Cited


Rossmo, D. Kim. Criminal investigative failures. CRC Press, 2012.

Tetlock, Philip E. "Accountability and the perseverance of rst impressions." Social Psychology
Quarterly (1983): 285-292.

Gilovich, Thomas. How we know what isn't so. Simon and Schuster, 2008.

Hamilton, David L., and Robert K. Gifford. "Illusory correlation in interpersonal perception: A cognitive
basis of stereotypic judgments." Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 12.4 (1976): 392-407.