Part 5/10:
Edmans identifies confirmation bias as a primary driver of misinformation today. This bias leads individuals to favor evidence that supports their existing beliefs and dismiss evidence that contradicts them. For instance, many people instinctively believe that natural products are inherently better than manufactured ones.
A concrete example is the research linking breastfeeding to higher IQ in later life. While some interpret this as breastfeeding directly causing increased intelligence, an alternative explanation is that mothers who breastfeed often have more supportive home environments—variables that also contribute to a child's IQ. These confounding factors reveal how easily one can misinterpret correlation as causation, especially when it fits our narrative.