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Using co-occurrence to evaluate belief coherence in a large non clinical sample
Rachel Pechey1, Peter Halligan
1School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Plos One
|November 17, 2012
Summary
Beliefs often coexist, supporting the idea that our ideas form an interconnected web. This study found that related beliefs co-occur more often than expected by chance, suggesting cognitive coherence.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- Recent neuropsychological studies often examine single false beliefs (delusions) rather than their co-occurrence.
- Quine and Ullian's coherentist hypothesis suggests beliefs form an interconnected web, avoiding cognitive dissonance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically investigate the probability of belief co-occurrence as an indicator of coherence.
- To evaluate co-occurrence across delusion-like, paranormal/religious, and societal/cultural belief sets.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale survey assessing belief co-endorsement within and between thematic groupings.
- Statistical analysis to compare observed co-occurrence against random probability.
Main Results:
- Beliefs within thematic groupings showed a significantly higher co-endorsement than random.
- Co-occurrence was greater within, than between, the defined thematic sets.
- Some belief associations were weak, indicating instances of cognitive dissonance.
Conclusions:
- Findings support Quine and Ullian's coherentist model of belief systems.
- Beliefs are not typically encapsulated but form interconnected networks.
- The study provides empirical evidence for belief coherence and the potential for cognitive dissonance.
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