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Home
UX Glossary
Confirmation Bias

👍

Confirmation Bias

We have a tendency to interpret (or seek out) information that is consistent with our beliefs.

Featured in 1 UX Bite

Similar psychology:

Hyperbolic Discounting
Fresh Start Effect
Familiarity Bias

Likely impacts:

Attention & Interest
Happiness & Enjoyment
Last updated: 26/09/2026

How to utilise this in your designs

You could reassure users who pick a subscription by adding a subtitle praising their good decision, so confirmation bias validates the choice they've made.

Subscription UI shows "Subscribe Now and Save" with crossed-out £8.50 price, discounted £7.23, dropdown for delivery frequency, black "SUBSCRIBE NOW" button, and £1.28 savings message highlighted by arrow.
Example from
Shop logo
Shop

Try matching testimonials to the diet a user selected before a paywall, so the social proof confirms what they already believe about their own needs.

UI shows dietary options with icons: Pescatarian, Vegetarian (highlighted in green), Vegan, Dairy-free. Highlighted review praises vegetarian recipes. Buttons for filtering recipes: "Yes, please" and "No, thanks."
Example from
Cherrypick logo
Cherrypick

You could show a 'how well matched' rating on each option, so users already leaning towards one choice find evidence confirming it suits them.

UI shows four colorful card options: Quiet your mind (92%), Get things done (88%), Be confident (79%), Keep your cool (54%) each with match %, learners count, and purple Add buttons.
Example from
Ahead logo
Ahead

You could ask users to pick titles they like during onboarding, then frame your library around those picks, so its value confirms their existing interests.

Book selection interface shows 12 book covers; arrow points to "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" in Library tab. Text highlights saving summaries to Library page.
Example from
Headway logo
Headway

Try explaining why a recommendation was shown, linking it to users' existing interests, so confirmation bias makes the suggestion feel more relevant.

LinkedIn UI showing "Recommended for you" company suggestions with logos and follow buttons. Highlighted text: "People who work at Citadel also follow these pages" and "People skilled in Acting also follow these pages." Bottom nav includes Home, My Network, Post, Notifications, Jobs.
Example from
LinkedIn logo
LinkedIn

Possible impacts

You could hold users' attention for longer by surfacing content that fits their existing beliefs and interests, as confirmation bias draws them to familiar ideas.

As seen in:
Ahead logo
Ahead
Specific social proof
LinkedIn logo
LinkedIn
Specific LinkedIn recommendations

It's possible users enjoy the experience more when it validates their choices rather than challenging them, as confirmation bias makes agreement feel rewarding.

As seen in:
Sentry logo
Sentry
An interactive hero H1
ConjuGato logo
ConjuGato
Bursting with joy
Peter Ramsey, Built for Mars Founder

Written by Peter Ramsey

Consultant to 100+ companies

Published: 10/09/2023