Argumentation and the diffusion of counter-intuitive beliefs

Area of Science:

• Cultural evolution
• Cognitive science
• Social psychology

Background:

• Cultural evolution research typically examines intuitive or minimally counterintuitive beliefs.
• Highly counterintuitive beliefs, such as scientific theories, can also spread effectively within communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of argumentation in the transmission of highly counterintuitive beliefs.
• To determine if argumentation is necessary and sufficient for the spread of such beliefs.

Main Methods:

• Experiment 1: Compared belief spread in large discussion groups versus groups with visual answer sharing but no discussion.
• Series of experiments: Employed repeated transmission techniques to track belief propagation.
• Tested the influence of conformist bias and authority/prestige bias on belief spread.

Main Results:

• Argumentation facilitated the spread of a counterintuitive belief in discussion groups.
• Belief spread was limited or absent without discussion, even with visual answer sharing.
• Repeated transmission showed arguments spread the counterintuitive belief without loss.
• Conformist bias and authority/prestige bias played minimal roles in spreading this belief.

Conclusions:

• Argumentation appears to be a necessary and sufficient mechanism for the spread of certain highly counterintuitive beliefs.
• This contrasts with the typical focus on intuitive or minimally counterintuitive ideas in cultural evolution.