A Single Counterexample Leads to Moral Belief Revision. (23rd March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Horne, Zachary; Powell, Derek; Hummel, John
• Is Part Of: Cognitive science. Volume 39:Number 8(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1950
• Page End: 1964
• Publication Date: 2015-03-23
• Subjects: Belief revision -- Morality -- Moral conviction -- Confirmation bias -- Moral dilemmas; Cognition -- Periodicals; Psycholinguistics -- Periodicals; Artificial intelligence -- Periodicals; 153.05
• DOI: 10.1111/cogs.12223
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0364-0213

Abstract

Abstract: What kind of evidence will lead people to revise their moral beliefs? Moral beliefs are often strongly held convictions, and existing research has shown that morality is rooted in emotion and socialization rather than deliberative reasoning. In addition, more general issues—such as confirmation bias—further impede coherent belief revision. Here, we explored a unique means for inducing belief revision. In two experiments, participants considered a moral dilemma in which an overwhelming majority of people judged that it was inappropriate to take action to maximize utility. Their judgments contradicted a utilitarian principle they otherwise strongly endorsed. Exposure to this scenario led participants to revise their belief in the utilitarian principle, and this revision persisted over several hours. This method provides a new avenue for inducing belief revision.