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Resistance to Change

Another error in reasoning that often appears in science and in the real world is resistance to change. This is when an individual is unable to accept new information that potentially disagrees with what they already know (12). Accepting new information challenges us to create a new worldview; combining both the old and new information, which requires higher reasoning processes, can be both time and energy-consuming (12). As a result, we often try to ignore or explain new information with faulty reasoning (12). Below, we highlighted three types of resistance to change. Click on each to learn more.

Check your understanding! Match each resistance to change to the correct term:

1. Fear of the Unknown

2. Fundamental Attribution Error

3. Confirmation Bias

A. Looking for evidence to support your own beliefs.

B. Being scared when you are in unpredictable situations.

C. Your actions are influenced by things that are not in your control but others' actions are influenced by things they can control.

Answers: 1B, 2C, 3A

Check your answers here!

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