Cognitive bias question

If a confirmation bias is seeing what you want to see, then what would you call the bias or expectation of seeing what you are used to seeing?

In other words, if someone wants to see UFOs they will tend to interpret visual data to conform to that expectation, but also, if we are so used to seeing something as always being a specific thing but one day it’s somewhat different but we still see it as the same old same old, what do you call this type of bias?

That list is hours of fun! I can’t wait to delve in! :smiley:

Seeing what you want and what you are used to are essentially the same thing and both are covered by confirmation bias. Seeing what you expect might be a better way to put it.

So a UFO believer expects to see a UFO (not in the sense that they’re certain it will happen, but in the sense that we all expect that someone will win the lottery). Likewise, the guy who is used to BMW drivers being rich and educated is going to expect to see those things. In both cases, confirmation bias affects the things you consciously notice and how you interpret those things.