The Policy Consequences of Motivated Information Processing Among the Partisan Elite. (July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anderson, Sarah E.; Harbridge, Laurel
• Is Part Of: American politics research. Volume 42:Number 4(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 700
• Page End: 728
• Publication Date: 2014-07
• Subjects: motivated reasoning -- budget -- policy -- party; Public opinion -- United States -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 320.973
• DOI: 10.1177/1532673X13511658
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1532-673X

Abstract

An analysis of U.S. budgetary changes shows that, among subaccounts that are cut, Democrats make more large cuts when they control more lawmaking institutions. This surprising finding is consistent with legislators who are subject to motivated reasoning. In an information-rich world, they disproportionately respond to information in line with their bias unless they must make a large accuracy correction. This article tests, for the first time, motivated information processing among legislators. It finds evidence that Democrats engage in motivated information processing and that the effects of it are felt more on social spending and in off-election years.