Although the problem of bias in a piece of writing sometimes consists of deliberate acts, such as propaganda, a person is frequently preconceived, not because they actually want it. Many misconceptions occur because people driven by commitment and interest in the position do not notice weakness of a reason obvious to other individuals (Herman and Oswald 99). Consequently, bias plays a significant role in argumentation since people’s emotions without their knowledge often lead to incorrect reasoning.
Currently, research in neuroscience and psychology has confirmed that human emotions significantly impact thinking. Moreover, scientists are exploring various number of cognitive illusions types (Herman and Oswald 100). Herman and Oswald have stated the substantial role of bias tendencies in argumentation because without the individual’s knowledge, the phenomenon of motivated reasoning occurs (117). This fact represents a significant problem for argumentation theories, which are based on the fact that dialectics and logic rules are sufficient to ensure rationality in a discussion.
Since such biases tend to manifest unconsciously, even a desire to reason with justice can ultimately create prejudgment and distorted arguments. The study by Villarroel et al. demonstrated that participants with a persuasion target misinterpreted the available evidence during the experiment (167). Villarroel et al. acknowledge the critical role of bias in argumentation, claiming that confirmation bias, defined as the tendency to interpret and select evidence in a way, which reinforces prior beliefs, is a well-documented phenomenon (168).
Even though the ideal of impartiality is unattainable, in order to minimize bias, it is necessary, first of all, to admit and realize the possibility of being wrong (Villarroel et al. 173). In addition, it would be helpful to engage critical thinking, disassemble own position, and investigate the objections to the views. Thus, even a sincere desire to reason with justice can ultimately create distorted arguments; it is possible to counteract it through accurate self-control.
To summarize, biases are inevitable flaws, which are driven by a person’s emotions, and interests play a significant role in the argumentation process. There is an opinion that what seems to be a mistake can be considered as adaptive behavior, which, as a rule, increases the productivity, motivation, and mood of people. However, in the process of creating a piece of writing, reliable information is a vital link; therefore, it is necessary to take measures to minimize prejudices.
Works Cited
Herman, Thierry, and Steve Oswald. Rhetoric and Cognition: Theoretical Perspectives and Persuasive Strategies. Peter Lang, 2016.
Villarroel, Constanza, et al. “Arguing Against Confirmation Bias: The Effect of Argumentative Discourse Goals on the Use of Disconfirming Evidence in Written Argument.” International Journal of Educational Research, vol. 79, 2016, 167-179. ScienceDirect. Web.