For someone to participate in motivated reasoning, either consciously or subconsciously, that individual first needs to be motivated. Motivation to arrive at a desired conclusion provides a level of arousal, which acts as an initial trigger for the operation of cognitive processes. Ziva Kunda reviewed research and developed a theoretical model to explain the mechanism by which motivated reasoning results in bias. To further complicate the issue, the first neuroimaging study designed to test the neural circuitry of individuals engaged in motivated reasoning found that motivated reasoning "was not associated with neural activity in regions previously linked with cold reasoning tasks and conscious (explicit) emotion regulation". These processes illuminate the mechanisms of the bias inherent in cases of motivated reasoning. ![]() More recent theories endorse these cognitive processes as only partial explanations of motivated reasoning but have also introduced motivational or affective (emotional) processes. Mechanisms Įarly research on how humans evaluated and integrated information supported a cognitive approach consistent with Bayesian probability, in which individuals weighted new information using rational calculations. This controversy existed because of a failure of researchers to explore mechanisms underlying motivated reasoning. This is because supportive research could be reinterpreted in entirely cognitive, non-motivational terms (the hot versus cold cognition controversy). The notion that motives or goals affect reasoning has a long and controversial history in social psychology. ![]() Motivated reasoning differs from critical thinking, in which beliefs are assessed with a skeptical but open-minded attitide. Individual differences such as political beliefs can also moderate the motivational / emotional effect. For motivated reasoning, the social context ( groupthink, peer pressure) partly controls the evidence utilised, particularly in dysfunctional societies. For confirmation bias, the evidence or arguments utilised can be logical as well as emotional. Motivated reasoning (a motivational bias) is an active unconscious or conscious process, by which one's emotions control the evidence supported or dismissed. ![]() But, confirmation bias is mainly an unconscious (innate) cognitive bias. Both favor evidence supporting one's beliefs, at the same time dismissing contradictory evidence. Motivated reasoning is similar to, and overlaps, confirmation bias. Individuals tend to favor arguments that support their current beliefs and reject new information that contradicts these beliefs. Motivated reasoning is a cognitive and social response, in which individuals actively, consciously or unconsciously, allow emotional and/or motivational biases to affect how new information is perceived. Politically motivated reasoning, in particular, is strongly directional, being directed toward supporting individual conservative or liberal (progressive) beliefs. ![]() Motivated reasoning can be classified into two categories: 1) Accuracy-oriented (non-directional), in which the motive is to arrive at an accurate conclusion, irrespective of the individual's beliefs, and 2) goal or directional-oriented, in which the motive is to arrive at a particular directional conclusion. For confirmation bias, the evidence or arguments can be logical as well as emotional. In contrast, motivated reasoning (motivational bias) is an active process, unconscious or conscious, by which one's emotions control the evidence supported or dismissed. However, confirmation bias is mainly an unconscious (innate) cognitive bias. Motivated reasoning is similar to and overlaps with confirmation bias. Individuals tend to favor evidence that coincides with their current beliefs and reject new information that contradicts them, despite contrary evidence. Motivated reasoning is a cognitive and social response in which individuals actively, consciously or unconsciously, allow motivational and emotional (affective) biases to affect how new information is perceived. Using emotionally-biased reasoning to produce justifications or make decisions
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