Reference no: EM133054252
Read the article "American Vigilante" by Paige Williams. It was published in the New Yorker
magazine on July 5, 2021.
Read the article carefully, making notes, and answer the following questions:
- In the article, find an example of confirmation bias. Name the individual in the article who has interpreted events in a way which has confirmed his or her own beliefs. Write about people Paige Williams discussed in detail in the article, not about the general public or your crackpot neighbor.
Your answer should look something like this: Like many four-year-olds, Dunklin believes in Santa Claus. So when a bunch of presents showed up on Christmas morning, the child's belief in Santa was confirmed, even though Santa isn't real. Even though it's more reasonable to believe that generous and loving family members had provided the toys, Dunklin's belief in Santa is steady.
- In the article find an example of a media personality or political activist who seems to be provoking a reaction by exploiting confirmation bias. The best examples are individuals who make statements which are incorrect or distorted.
Your answer should look something like this: On Christmas morning, Dunklin's mother noticed that one of Dunklin's new toys still had its Walmart tag, clear evidence that the toy was not manufactured by Santa's elves at the North Pole. To distract Dunklin, she said "Look, Santa moved the couch to make room for the presents!," and while Dunklin was looking at the couch, Mom hid the Walmart tag. By concealing evidence that Santa is a myth, Dunklin's mother ensured that Dunklin would remain ignorant of the facts.