The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning
Abstract Persuasive appeals frequently prove ineffective or produce unintended outcomes, due to the presence of motivated reasoning. Using the example of electric cars adoption, this research delves into the impact of emotional content, message valence, and the coherence of pre-existing attitudes on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81605-6 |
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| _version_ | 1841559528647163904 |
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| author | Ingo Wolf Tobias Schröder |
| author_facet | Ingo Wolf Tobias Schröder |
| author_sort | Ingo Wolf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Persuasive appeals frequently prove ineffective or produce unintended outcomes, due to the presence of motivated reasoning. Using the example of electric cars adoption, this research delves into the impact of emotional content, message valence, and the coherence of pre-existing attitudes on biased information evaluation. By conducting a factorial survey (N = 480) and incorporating a computational model of attitude formation, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the cognitive-affective mechanisms driving motivated reasoning. Our experimental findings reveal that motivated reasoning is most pronounced when persuasive appeals employ a combination of emotional and rational elements within a negatively valenced argument. Furthermore, our computational model, which estimates belief and affect adjustments underlying attitude changes, elucidates how message framing influences cognitive-affective processes through emotional coherence. The results provide support for a negative correlation between shifts in coherence in response to new information and the propensity for motivated reasoning. The research contributes to computational models of opinion dynamics and social influence, offering a psychologically realistic framework for exploring the impact of individual reasoning on population-level dynamics, particularly in policy contexts, where it can enhance communication and informed policy discussions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-07f03028c4f241768e3d6fd3b14f370c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-07f03028c4f241768e3d6fd3b14f370c2025-01-05T12:25:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-81605-6The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoningIngo Wolf0Tobias Schröder1Research Institute for Sustainability – Helmholtz Centre Potsdam (RIFS)Potsdam University of Applied SciencesAbstract Persuasive appeals frequently prove ineffective or produce unintended outcomes, due to the presence of motivated reasoning. Using the example of electric cars adoption, this research delves into the impact of emotional content, message valence, and the coherence of pre-existing attitudes on biased information evaluation. By conducting a factorial survey (N = 480) and incorporating a computational model of attitude formation, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the cognitive-affective mechanisms driving motivated reasoning. Our experimental findings reveal that motivated reasoning is most pronounced when persuasive appeals employ a combination of emotional and rational elements within a negatively valenced argument. Furthermore, our computational model, which estimates belief and affect adjustments underlying attitude changes, elucidates how message framing influences cognitive-affective processes through emotional coherence. The results provide support for a negative correlation between shifts in coherence in response to new information and the propensity for motivated reasoning. The research contributes to computational models of opinion dynamics and social influence, offering a psychologically realistic framework for exploring the impact of individual reasoning on population-level dynamics, particularly in policy contexts, where it can enhance communication and informed policy discussions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81605-6 |
| spellingShingle | Ingo Wolf Tobias Schröder The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning Scientific Reports |
| title | The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning |
| title_full | The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning |
| title_fullStr | The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning |
| title_full_unstemmed | The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning |
| title_short | The critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning |
| title_sort | critical role of emotional communication for motivated reasoning |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81605-6 |
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