Which bias might cause an individual to stick with a first impression even when presented with contradicting evidence?

The correct choice is anchored to the concept of anchoring bias, which refers to the cognitive phenomenon where individuals heavily rely on the first piece of information encountered (the "anchor") when making decisions or judgments. This initial impression sets a reference point that can unduly influence subsequent evaluations, often leading individuals to disregard new information that contradicts their initial perception.

In this situation, if an individual forms a first impression based on initial evidence or encounters, any later evidence that might deviate from that impression may be overlooked or undervalued. This bias can hinder critical thinking and open-mindedness, causing the person to become fixed on their first impression, regardless of the validity of new data presented to them.

Understanding anchoring bias also helps to clarify its differentiation from other biases. For instance, self-serving bias involves attributing successes to oneself and failures to external factors, while confirmation bias specifically entails the tendency to seek out information that supports an existing belief rather than challenging it. Survivorship bias focuses on analyzing the outcomes of successful subjects while ignoring those that did not succeed, leading to skewed interpretations. Hence, anchoring bias is the most fitting answer in the context of sticking to first impressions despite new evidence.