This is an incredible video (source here). Michelangelo Signorile has a long conversation with a birther, presents all the facts, and then we all get to watch and listen as this person refuses to accept them, coming up with counterarguments (although not very well). A more sophisticated birther would do a lot better job at defending his or her preconceptions, and there are many of those out there. But what's remarkable is to observe motivated reasoning and self-defense of one's beliefs in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es3Jw1IxNMo&feature=player_embedded I want to thank Jamie Vernon for finding this. You are all going to be hearing a lot more from him, by the way, as he'll be guest blogging here next month. More soon....
Birther Motivated Reasoning and Belief Perseverance in Action
Discover how motivated reasoning and self-defense shape discussions in Signorile's conversation with a birther. Watch the denial unfold!
Written byChris Mooney
| 1 min read
More on Discover
Stay Curious
SubscribeTo The Magazine
Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.
Subscribe











