Motivated Reasoning

Social psychology speaks of Motivated Reasoning

when we form and cling to beliefs despite contradicting evidence.

Motivated Reasoning is characterized by actions such as:

Rather than searching for neutral information about a particular belief,

we seek out information that confirms what we already believe.

Motivated Reasoning impacts our rational processes, such as:

Our ways of viewing complex issues (e.g. over-simplification)

Our views and beliefs of others (e.g. implicit biases)

Our evaluation of evidence (e.g. dismissal due to beliefs)

 

Motivated Reasoning also

impacts directly our personal processes, such as:

Our level of openness to other perspectives

Our capacities for making life choices

Our courage to review our attitudes

When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves,

we undergo a truly heroic transformation.

Joseph Campbell