Selective Perception

Selective perception is the tendency to focus on certain information while ignoring other details, based on our previous experiences, beliefs, or interests. It happens when we interpret or notice only what aligns with our expectations or preferences, filtering out the rest. For example, someone interested in sports might pay more attention to sports news and overlook other types of information. This bias can influence how we perceive situations, people, or messages, sometimes leading to misunderstandings or skewed judgments because we are essentially “seeing” only what confirms our existing views.