Motivated Cognition (sept.21)

Question 1

How we evaluate a topic or constue a topic depends on our ____.

Answer 1

motivation (goals, fears, preferences, etc.)

Question 2

What are the three components of the theory of Lay Epistemics?

Answer 2

(1) need for closure
(2) dseire for validity
(3) motive for specific conclusions

Question 3

What is (1) need for closure?

Answer 3

some external pressure is encouraging you to make a decision or reach closure quicker than if you were to simply sit and completely evaluate a decision

• rushing to a judgement
• not willing to change your mind
• NOT ENOUGH TIME
• ex first impressions (not enough time to truly evaluate a person, but you want closure so you create an impression with insignificant info.)

Question 4

Need for Closure Experiment

Answer 4

Kruglanski and Ford

• student teachers asked to grade essays from 8th graders in 10 min or 60 min
• children identified as Ashkenazi or not
• stereotype that Ashkenazi people are not as smart
• student teachers graded using stereotype only when under time crunch (needed closure)

Question 5

What is (2) desire for validity?

Answer 5

motivation to be accurate

• leads to more careful judgement
• more willing to consider in consistent information
• could be triggered if there is a high personal cost associated with making a mistake

Question 6

Desire for Validity Experiment

Answer 6

Chaiken

• participants listen to a speech in support of the trimester instead of semester system
• IV1 speaker was either likable with poor arguments or not very likable with lots of arguments
• IV2 implemented next year or in five years (personal relevance)
• low relevance were more persuaded by likable
• high relevance were more persuaded by more arguments because their desire for validity increased

Question 7

What is (3) motive for specific conclusions?

Answer 7

motivated to believe things (motivated cognition)

• situational benefit (one belief benefits your more)
• cherished beliefs (religion, world concepts, self views)
• creates biased thinking

Question 8

Motive for Specific Conclusions Experiment

Answer 8

Ditto and Lopez

• participants had to choose someone more intelligent to be there partner for a task
• their possible partners answers to a test are given one at a time
• possible partner 1 gets almost everything right (intelligent)
• possible partner 2 gets every other one right (unintelligent)
• also lead to believe that one of the possible partners is unpleasant

Question 9

Motive for Specific Conclusions Experiment Results

Answer 9

• unpleasant and intelligent = 9 questions through
• unpleasant and unintelligent = 6.6 questions through the quiz
• made the decision quicker because they got the answer they wanted