# 50. Self-delusion - the manipulation of self ## 50.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 50.5.5. Selective bias At the level of personal opinion, this type of delusion is endemic. We all tend to filter out opinions which differ from our own, and seek out opinions which coincide with our own. Over time, by never seeking the antithetical, and by only reading magazines, books and watching television programmes that confirm our belief system, we can become so confident in our worldview, that no one could dissuade us of any part of it. Everything we know seems to confirm it. This is a potentially dangerous form of delusional self-manipulation because it denies the concept of "keeping an open mind" or "thinking outside the box". In science, we move closer to the truth by seeking evidence to test the contrary of our hypothesis. Perhaps the same method should inform our personal opinions as well. This bias is also often used by external manipulators, like advertisers or media outlets. There's always someone out there willing to sell "eyeballs" to advertisers, by offering a guaranteed audience of people looking for validation of their own vision. This is precisely the business model of Fox News. They are the channel of choice for the right-wing Republican voters of the USA, and Fox News gives these people exactly what they desire - hard right-wing opinions.