What is a characteristic of belief perseverance?

Belief perseverance refers to the tendency for individuals to maintain their beliefs even when encountering contrary evidence. The characteristic of noticing only information of interest aligns with this concept, as those exhibiting belief perseverance are likely to selectively focus on information that reinforces their existing beliefs while disregarding or undervaluing evidence that contradicts them. This selectivity can lead to cognitive biases, where individuals ignore a broader view of evidence and instead highlight information that supports their preconceptions.

In contrast, accepting all new information does not reflect belief perseverance, as this would entail an openness to updating beliefs based on new evidence. Similarly, only considering conflicting information and forgetting existing beliefs would indicate a willingness to challenge or revise one’s beliefs, which is the opposite of what belief perseverance entails. The nature of belief perseverance is more about clinging to existing views and filtering information through that lens.