A note on motivated cognition and discriminatory beliefs

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Stoetzer, Lasse S.; Zimmermann, Florian
• 署名单位: IZA Institute Labor Economics; University of Bonn
• 刊物名称: GAMES AND ECONOMIC BEHAVIOR
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0899-8256
• DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2024.08.002
• 发表日期: 2024
• 页码: 554-562
• 关键词: discrimination; stereotypes; racism; Motivated reasoning; beliefs

摘要

In this note, we provide evidence that motivated reasoning can be a source of discriminatory beliefs. We employ a representative survey experiment in which we exogenously manipulate the presence of a need for justification of anti-social behavior towards an out-group. We find that survey participants devalue members of an out-group to justify taking away money from that group. Our results speak to a long-standing debate on the causes of racism and discrimination and suggest an important role of motivated cognition.