William is convinced that there is no relationship between exposure to violent media and aggressive behavior.When presented with evidence to the contrary,he quickly critiques it and disputes it,claiming that it is unreliable and flawed.This is an example of
A) the availability heuristic.
B) the framing effect.
C) motivated reasoning.
D) creative thinking.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

William's quick dismissal of evidence that contradicts his belief suggests that he is engaging in motivated reasoning. Motivated reasoning is when individuals "embrac[e] information that confirms what they already believe, while ignoring or rejecting evidence that contradicts those beliefs" (Mercier & Sperber, 2017). In this case, William's belief that there is no relationship between exposure to violent media and aggressive behavior is motivating him to reject evidence to the contrary.

William Is Convinced That There Is No Relationship Between Exposure