Dan M. Kahan
Ideology, motivated reasoning, and cognitive reflection
University of New Haven
abstract decision scientists identified various plausible sources ideological polarization climate change gun violence national security like issues turn empirical evidence paper describes study three predominance heuristicdriven information processing members public ideologically motivated reasoning cognitivestyle correlates political conservativism study generated observational experimental data inconsistent hypothesis political conservatism distinctively associated either unreflective thinking motivated reasoning conservatives better worse liberals cognitive reflection test frederick 2005 objective measure informationprocessing dispositions associated cognitive biases addition study found ideologically motivated reasoning consequence overreliance heuristic intuitive forms reasoning generally contrary subjects scored highest cognitive reflection likely display ideologically motivated cognition findings corroborated alternative hypothesis identifies ideologically motivated cognition form information processing promotes individuals interests forming maintaining beliefs signify loyalty important affinity groups paper discusses practical significance findings including need develop science communication strategies shield policyrelevant facts influences turn divisive symbols political identity