Attitude Polarization: Theory and Evidence

Juan Dubra () and Jean Pierre Benoit

No 1503, Documentos de Trabajo/Working Papers from Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales y Economia. Universidad de Montevideo.

Abstract: Numerous experiments have demonstrated the possibility of attitude polarization. For instance, Lord, Ross & Leper (1979) found that death penalty advocates became more convinced of the deterrent effect of the death penalty while opponents become more convinced of the lack of a deterrent e§ect, after being presented with the same studies. However, there is an unclear understanding of just what these experiments show and what their implications are. We argue that attitude polarization is consistent with an unbiased evaluation of evidence. Moreover, attitude polarization is even to be expected under many circumstances, in particular those under which experiments are conducted. We also undertake a critical re-examination of several well-known papers.

Keywords: Attitude Polarization; Confirmation Bias; Bayesian Decision Making (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D11 D12 D82 D83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mnt:wpaper:1503

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