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The case for motivated reasoning
1Department of Psychology, Princeton University, New Jersey 08544-1010.
Psychological Bulletin
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Motivation influences reasoning by biasing cognitive processes. People use strategies to reach desired conclusions, but this is limited by their ability to create justifications for those beliefs.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Motivation significantly impacts cognitive processes.
- Reasoning can be influenced by the desire to reach specific conclusions or the need for accuracy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how motivation affects reasoning through biased cognitive strategies.
- To explain the mechanisms underlying motivated reasoning.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research on motivated reasoning.
- Analysis of cognitive strategies for belief access, construction, and evaluation.
Main Results:
- Motivation to be accurate promotes appropriate belief and strategy use.
- Motivation to reach desired conclusions favors strategies likely to yield them.
- The ability to justify conclusions constrains motivated reasoning outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Motivated reasoning is a key factor in understanding belief formation.
- Cognitive biases in accessing, constructing, and evaluating beliefs are central to motivated reasoning.
- The interplay between desired conclusions and justification ability shapes reasoning processes.
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