<p>There is a fallacy in thinking called "confirmation bias" in which one only looks at or perceives "facts" in light of, or to support, their pre-conceived notions.
Here is the definition of <em>confirmation bias</em>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>See <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias" rel="nofollow noreferrer">confirmation bias definition</a>.<br>
Of interest see also <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/science-choice/201504/what-is-confirmation-bias" rel="nofollow noreferrer">article in Psychology Today</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-16T14:00:12.827Z
2017-07-16T18:37:44.533Z
2017-07-16T18:37:44.533Z
tale852150
<p>Is there a name or a theory for when someone alters a truth to strengthen their point(delusion)? </p>

<p>For instance, remember when President Trump carried out his plan to deport "illegal" immigrants and the lefties painted a different picture by their "Day without immigrant" story to portray the administrators as cold mean bullies, as opposed to saying "Day without ILLEGAL immigrants"? </p>

<p>It is a phenomenon where individuals will consciously alter something, not intentionally to lie malevolently, but strengthen their (obviously) weak point(something to do with ideological possession).</p>

<p>Is there an official name or theory for this, like, "So-and-so's theory of  such and such" or is there rather a study with conclusive data/research on the phenomenon?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-07-16T17:54:12.780Z
Hello and welcome to Cognitive Sciences! This question seems bound to draw some pretty opinion based answers, specifically with how it is asked. Do you think you can phrase it with some more neutral wording or examples?
mflo-ByeSE
<social-psychology>
Name or theory for a particular phenomenon pertaining to ideological possession
Boygee
# Name or theory for a particular phenomenon pertaining to ideological possession

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-16)

Is there a name or a theory for when someone alters a truth to strengthen their point(delusion)?

For instance, remember when President Trump carried out his plan to deport "illegal" immigrants and the lefties painted a different picture by their "Day without immigrant" story to portray the administrators as cold mean bullies, as opposed to saying "Day without ILLEGAL immigrants"?

It is a phenomenon where individuals will consciously alter something, not intentionally to lie malevolently, but strengthen their (obviously) weak point(something to do with ideological possession).

Is there an official name or theory for this, like, "So-and-so's theory of such and such" or is there rather a study with conclusive data/research on the phenomenon?

**Tags:** social-psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hello and welcome to Cognitive Sciences! This question seems bound to draw some pretty opinion based answers, specifically with how it is asked. Do you think you can phrase it with some more neutral wording or examples?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-07-16. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

There is a fallacy in thinking called "confirmation bias" in which one only looks at or perceives "facts" in light of, or to support, their pre-conceived notions.
Here is the definition of *confirmation bias*:

> The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.

See [confirmation bias definition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias).  
Of interest see also [article in Psychology Today](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/science-choice/201504/what-is-confirmation-bias)


---

