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Are Biases Contagious? The Influence of Communication on Motivated Beliefs
Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-348936
- This paper examines the potential reinforcement of motivated beliefs when individuals with identical biases communicate. We propose a controlled online experiment that allows to manipulate belief biases and the communication environment. We find that communication, even among like-minded individuals, diminishes motivated beliefs if it takes place in an environment without previously declared external opinions. In the presence of external plural opinions, however, communication does not reduce but rather aggravates motivated beliefs. Our resultsThis paper examines the potential reinforcement of motivated beliefs when individuals with identical biases communicate. We propose a controlled online experiment that allows to manipulate belief biases and the communication environment. We find that communication, even among like-minded individuals, diminishes motivated beliefs if it takes place in an environment without previously declared external opinions. In the presence of external plural opinions, however, communication does not reduce but rather aggravates motivated beliefs. Our results indicate a potential drawback of the plurality of opinions - it may create communication environments wherein motivated beliefs not only persist but also become contagious within social networks.…
Author: | Andreas Grunewald, Victor Klockmann, Alicia von Schenk, Ferdinand A. von Siemens |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-348936 |
Document Type: | Working Paper |
Faculties: | Wirtschaftswissenschaftliche Fakultät / Volkswirtschaftliches Institut |
Language: | English |
Year of Completion: | 2024 |
Series (Serial Number): | Würzburg Economic Papers (W. E. P.) (109) |
Pagenumber: | 1-38 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.25972/OPUS-34893 |
Dewey Decimal Classification: | 3 Sozialwissenschaften / 33 Wirtschaft / 339 Makroökonomie und verwandte Themen |
GND Keyword: | BiasGND |
Tag: | belief bias; motivated beliefs; social interaction |
JEL-Classification: | C Mathematical and Quantitative Methods / C9 Design of Experiments / C91 Laboratory, Individual Behavior |
C Mathematical and Quantitative Methods / C9 Design of Experiments / C92 Laboratory, Group Behavior | |
D Microeconomics / D8 Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty / D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief | |
Release Date: | 2024/02/06 |
Licence (German): | Deutsches Urheberrecht |