TY - JOUR A1 - Schwardmann, Peter A1 - van der Weele, Joël J. A1 - Tripodi, Egon T1 - Self-Persuasion: Evidence From Field Experiments at International Debating Competitions JF - American Economic Review N2 - Laboratory evidence shows that when people have to argue for a given position, they persuade themselves about the position's factual and moral superiority. Such self-persuasion limits the potential of communication to resolve conflict and reduce polarization. We test for this phenomenon in a field setting, at international debating competitions that randomly assign experienced and motivated debaters to argue one side of a topical motion. We find self-persuasion in factual beliefs and confidence in one's position. Effect sizes are smaller than in the laboratory, but robust to a one-hour exchange of arguments and a tenfold increase in incentives for accuracy. Y1 - 2022 UR - https://opus4.kobv.de/opus4-hsog/frontdoor/index/index/docId/4509 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.20200372 VL - 112 IS - 4 SP - 1118 EP - 1146 ER -