The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning

  • Persuasive appeals frequently prove ineffective or produce unintended outcomes, due to the presence of motivated reasoning. Using the example of electric cars adoption, this research delves into the impact of emotional content, message valence, and the coherence of pre-existing attitudes on biased information evaluation. By conducting a factorial survey (N = 480) and incorporating a computational model of attitude formation, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the cognitive-affective mechanisms driving motivated reasoning. Our experimental findings reveal that motivated reasoning is most pronounced when persuasive appeals employ a combination of emotional and rational elements within a negatively valenced argument. Furthermore, our computational model, which estimates belief and affect adjustments underlying attitude changes, elucidates how message framing influences cognitive-affective processes through emotional coherence. The results provide support for a negative correlation between shifts in coherence in response to newPersuasive appeals frequently prove ineffective or produce unintended outcomes, due to the presence of motivated reasoning. Using the example of electric cars adoption, this research delves into the impact of emotional content, message valence, and the coherence of pre-existing attitudes on biased information evaluation. By conducting a factorial survey (N = 480) and incorporating a computational model of attitude formation, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the cognitive-affective mechanisms driving motivated reasoning. Our experimental findings reveal that motivated reasoning is most pronounced when persuasive appeals employ a combination of emotional and rational elements within a negatively valenced argument. Furthermore, our computational model, which estimates belief and affect adjustments underlying attitude changes, elucidates how message framing influences cognitive-affective processes through emotional coherence. The results provide support for a negative correlation between shifts in coherence in response to new information and the propensity for motivated reasoning. The research contributes to computational models of opinion dynamics and social influence, offering a psychologically realistic framework for exploring the impact of individual reasoning on population-level dynamics, particularly in policy contexts, where it can enhance communication and informed policy discussions.zeige mehrzeige weniger

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Metadaten
Verfasserangaben:Ingo Wolf, Tobias SchröderORCiDGND
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81605-6
ISSN:2045-2322
Titel des übergeordneten Werkes (Englisch):Scientific reports
Verlag:Springer Nature
Verlagsort:Berlin
Dokumentart:Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Sprache:Englisch
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung:2024
Veröffentlichende Institution:Fachhochschule Potsdam
Datum der Freischaltung:03.01.2025
GND-Schlagwort:Elektrofahrzeug; Meinungsbildung
Ausgabe / Heft:14
Aufsatznummer:31681
Erste Seite:1
Letzte Seite:13
Fachbereiche und Zentrale Einrichtungen:FB1 Sozial- und Bildungswissenschaften
DDC-Klassifikation:300 Sozialwissenschaften / 300 Sozialwissenschaften, Soziologie
Open Access:Gold Open Access
Lizenz (Deutsch):Creative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International
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