Study Reveals that Two-thirds of the Time People Tend to Stay with Their Beliefs and Attitudes because Changing Those Might Prevent Them from Living the Lives They are Living
A University of Illinois study found that while people tend
to avoid information that contradicts what they already think or
believe, certain factors can cause them to seek out, or at least
consider, other points of view. The analysis,
reported this month in Psychological Bulletin, published by
the American Psychological Association, was led by researchers at the
University of Illinois and the University of Florida, and included
data from 91 studies involving nearly 8,000 participants. It puts to
rest a longstanding debate over whether people actively avoid
information that contradicts what they believe, or whether they are
simply exposed more often to ideas that conform to their own because
they tend to be surrounded by like-minded people.
"We wanted
to see exactly across the board to what extent people are willing to
seek out the truth versus just stay comfortable with what they know,"
said University of Illinois psychology professor Dolores Albarracin,
who led the study with University of Florida researcher William Hart.
The team also included researchers from Northwestern University and
Ohio University.
The studies they
reviewed generally asked participants about their views on a given
topic and then allowed them to choose whether they wanted to view or
read information supporting their own or an opposing point of view.
The researchers
found that people are about twice as likely to select information
that supports their own point of view (67 percent) as to consider an
opposing idea (33 percent). Certain individuals, those with
close-minded personalities, are even more reluctant to expose
themselves to differing perspectives, Albarracin said. They will opt
for the information that corresponds to their views nearly 75 percent
of the time.
The researchers
also found, not surprisingly, that people are more resistant to new
points of view when their own ideas are associated with political,
religious or ethical values.
Read More: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-07/uoia-pss062509.php
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