Which cognitive phenomenon can lead to an individual sticking to their beliefs even when presented with contrary evidence?

The backfire effect is a cognitive phenomenon where individuals not only maintain their existing beliefs when confronted with contrary evidence but may also strengthen their beliefs in response to that evidence. This occurs because instead of altering their views, individuals may rationalize or reinterpret the information to align with their pre-existing beliefs. The backfire effect highlights the complexity of belief systems and the psychological resistance people have to changing their opinions, indicating a robust defense of one's beliefs even when faced with clear contradictions.

Other phenomena listed, like cognitive dissonance, deal more with the mental discomfort caused by holding conflicting beliefs, prompting individuals to change their beliefs or rationalize them to reduce discomfort rather than reinforcing them. Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to seek out or prioritize information that supports existing beliefs, and belief bias relates to the tendency to judge the strength of an argument based on the believability of its conclusion rather than its logical validity. Each of these concepts involves the interplay between cognition and belief; however, the backfire effect specifically addresses the scenario of adhering more strongly to beliefs despite contrary evidence.