The automatic nature of motivated belief updating

• DOI: 10.1017/bpp.2017.11
• Publication Date: 2018-03-01T05:29:53Z
• Authors: ANDREAS KAPPES; TALI SHAROT
• Keywords: Debiasing; Accident (philosophy); Motivated reasoning; Confirmation bias

Abstract People's risk estimates often do not align with the evidence available to them. In particular, people tend discount bad news (such as suggesting their of being involved in a car accident is higher than they thought) compared good (evidence it lower) – this known belief update bias. It has been assumed that individuals use motivated reasoning rationalise away unwanted (e.g., “I am safe driver, thus these statistics apply me”). However, whether required tested directly. Here, we restrict cognitive resources using load (Experiment 1) and time restriction manipulation 3) find while manipulations diminish learning general, Furthermore, also show relative neglect happens moment new presented, when participants are subsequently prompted state 2). Our findings suggest for be discounted news.