Devil in a New Dress: Reframing as an Alternative Method of Motivated Reasoning
Date
2020-05
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Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Much research has been conducted in the field of motivated reasoning, with most of this work focused on the tendency of motivated reasoners to reject counterarguments out of hand, the so-called disconfirmation bias. The objective of this work is markedly different. Borrowing from the prodigious body of work on framing, this investigation suggests an alternative route of motivated reasoning: when presented with a counterargument, subjects engage in motivated reasoning not by wholly rejecting the counter, but by reframing their attitudes so as to reduce the importance of the challenged belief. To this end, we conducted a series of experiments centered around challenging popular political beliefs and measuring the impact of the challenge on the receiver.
This was accomplished first by conducting surveys to uncover prevailing political beliefs around several topics ranging from gun control to the legalization of prostitution. With the most common beliefs clearly established, we then conducted an experiment in which these beliefs were challenged through the creation of specifically tailored and previously evaluated counterarguments. Experimental subjects were asked to provide their (positive or negative) attitude toward a given political topic, and then asked to rank and rate the four most common beliefs surrounding that topic – with the first ranked belief representing the one the subject felt was most important. This belief was then challenged, and after a period – a week in the first trial, and ten minutes in the second trial – the subjects were asked to repeat their rankings and ratings of the offered beliefs. The results showed virtually no attitude change resulting from these challenges, but a significant number of subjects lowered their first-ranked belief after having been challenged. We interpret this behavior as engaging in motivated reasoning via reframing. Further research to determine when individuals engage in motivated reasoning via disconfirmation vs. reframing is needed, but these early results suggest that reframing is a legitimate alternative route through which individuals maintain their attitudes in the face of challenges.
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Keywords
Motivated Reasoning, Reframing, Political Science