The pervasive human cognitive tendency to initially accept information as true, especially if it aligns with pre-existing beliefs or comes from a seemingly credible source, before expending the mental energy to critically evaluate or verify it. It’s the mind’s default "truth until proven false" setting, a mental shortcut that saves energy but makes us vulnerable to misinformation, propaganda, and the first compelling narrative we hear. In a debate, it’s the unfair advantage held by the person who speaks first and most confidently.
Example: You read a headline that says "Study: Coffee Causes Cancer." Your immediate, gut reaction is a spike of worry—that's Truth Bias in action. Only later, if at all, do you check if the study was on rats, involved absurd doses, or was funded by a tea company. The false claim gets a free pass into your brain because skepticism requires conscious effort.
by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 4, 2026
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