Two components of individual differences in actively open-minded thinking standards

Myside bias and uncertainty aversion

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21689179
AutoresJonathan Baron (0000-0003-1001-9947, University of Pennsylvania, autor correspondente)
Ano2024
Volume30
Fascículo4
Páginas648-673
Data de publicação2024-10-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoThinking & Reasoning (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1354-6783 • E-ISSN: 1464-0708
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13546783.2024.2360491
OpenAlexW4399359326
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas4
Referências citadas28

The theory of actively open-minded thinking (AOT) implies standards for good thinking. Two broad aspects of these standards characterise individual differences in their acceptance: myside bias, in which thinking favours possible conclusions that are already strong; and uncertainty aversion, a belief that good thinking results in high confidence. Acceptance of AOT standards is often measured with short questionnaire scales. The present paper reports one study focusing on each of these two biases in the evaluation of the trustworthiness of sources, on the basis of short statements differing in signs of myside bias or of unjustified overconfidence. A 10-item scale measuring largely myside bias predicts sensitivity to both sources of difference in the statements. A third study examines the generality of the two standards across topics. The study used four questions about each topic and an 11-item scale with more items about uncertainty aversion. Individual differences are preserved across topic, although some results imply that individual differences are more pronounced when a standard is seen as more relevant to the content. The two standards are best characterised as two unidimensional factors that are correlated with each other. Thus, individual differences in AOT standards are not unidimensional

Cognitive psychology · Econometrics · Economics · Loss aversion · Microeconomics · Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills · Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics · Psychology · Social Psychology