@article{SchwardmannvanderWeeleTripodi, author = {Schwardmann, Peter and van der Weele, Jo{\"e}l J. and Tripodi, Egon}, title = {Self-Persuasion: Evidence From Field Experiments at International Debating Competitions}, series = {American Economic Review}, volume = {112}, journal = {American Economic Review}, number = {4}, doi = {10.1257/aer.20200372}, pages = {1118 -- 1146}, abstract = {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.}, language = {en} } @techreport{RothSchwardmannTripodi, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Roth, Christopher and Schwardmann, Peter and Tripodi, Egon}, title = {Misperceived Effectiveness and the Demand for Psychotherapy}, series = {Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers}, journal = {Berlin School of Economics Discussion Papers}, edition = {No. 36}, doi = {10.48462/opus4-5362}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b1570-opus4-53621}, pages = {47}, abstract = {While psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating depression, take-up remains low. In a sample of 1,843 depressed individuals, we document that effectiveness concerns are top-of-mind when respondents consider the value of therapy. We then show that the average respondent underestimates the effectiveness of therapy and that an information treatment correcting this misperception increases participants' incentivized willingness to pay for therapy. Information affects therapy demand by changing beliefs rather than by shifting attention. Our results suggest that information interventions that target the perceived effectiveness of therapy are a potent tool in combating the ongoing mental health crisis.}, language = {en} } @techreport{RothSchwardmannTripodi, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Roth, Christopher and Schwardmann, Peter and Tripodi, Egon}, title = {Depression Stigma}, edition = {CESifo Working Paper No. 11012}, doi = {10.2139/ssrn.4772585}, pages = {84}, abstract = {Throughout history, people with mental illness have been discriminated against and stigmatized. Our experiment provides a new measure of perceived depression stigma and then investigates the causal effect of perceived stigma on help-seeking in a sample of 1,844 Americans suffering from depression. A large majority of our participants overestimate the extent of stigma associated with depression. In contrast to prior correlational evidence, lowering perceived social stigma through an information intervention leads to a reduction in the demand for psychotherapy. A mechanism experiment reveals that this information increases optimism about future mental health, thereby reducing the perceived need for therapy.}, language = {en} } @techreport{BraghieriSchwardmannTripodi, type = {Working Paper}, author = {Braghieri, Luca and Schwardmann, Peter and Tripodi, Egon}, title = {DP19753 Talking across the Aisle}, series = {CEPR Discussion Paper No. 19753}, journal = {CEPR Discussion Paper No. 19753}, publisher = {CEPR Press}, address = {Paris \& London}, abstract = {We conduct an experiment in which U.S. Democrats and Republicans engage in naturalistic video conversations about policy-relevant facts. We investigate self-selection into politically homogeneous interactions and how these interactions affect information aggregation and affective polarization. Participants exhibit a preference against cross-partisan conversations, explained by lower expectations about their informational and hedonic value. Indeed, participants find it significantly more difficult to extract knowledge from counter-partisans and, thus, tend to learn less from them. In contrast, cross-partisan interactions prove more enjoyable than anticipated and lastingly reduce affective polarization. Overall, cross-partisan contact may better serve to reduce affective polarization than to improve information aggregation.}, language = {en} } @article{RothSchwardmannTripodi, author = {Roth, Christopher and Schwardmann, Peter and Tripodi, Egon}, title = {Misperceived effectiveness and the demand for psychotherapy}, series = {Journal of Public Economics}, volume = {240}, journal = {Journal of Public Economics}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpubeco.2024.105254}, abstract = {While psychotherapy has been shown to be effective in treating depression, take-up remains low. In a sample of 1843 depressed individuals, we document that effectiveness concerns are top of mind when respondents consider the value of therapy. We then show that the average respondent underestimates the effectiveness of therapy. An information treatment correcting this misperception increases participants' incentivized willingness to pay for a \$320 therapy from \$166 to \$176. Our evidence suggests that while information can influence therapy demand by altering beliefs and shifting attention, it may not significantly increase demand unless substantial subsidies are provided.}, language = {en} }