Raymond Owens believes every young man should serve in the military. When he read a piece on conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War, he determined in his own mind that the author of the article supported his belief even though the verbiage in the article tried to present a fair picture of conscientious objectors. This is an example of:
A) selective adaptation.
B) selective action.
C) selective distortion.
D) selective retention.
E) selective memorization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Raymond Owens' interpretation of the article as supporting his belief, despite its attempt to present a balanced view, is an example of selective distortion. This psychological process involves interpreting information in a way that conforms to one's preexisting beliefs and attitudes, often distorting the actual content to fit those beliefs.

Raymond Owens Believes Every Young Man Should Serve in the Military