1980/03/01 by Daniel W. Russell, Warren H. Jones · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Psychology · #Arousal #Cognition #Cognitive dissonance #Cognitive psychology #Epistemology #Interdisciplinary Studies: Technology, Society, and Humanities #Media Influence and Health #Paranormal #Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs #Parapsychology #Psychology #Self-justification #Self-perception theory #Skepticism #Social psychology #Superstition
paper · doi:10.1177/014616728061012
openalex publication_date 1980/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/11
Previous research has suggested cognitive distortion of counter attitudinal information bi' believers but not by skeptics of paranormal phenomena. The present stud' sought to extend these results, using a different mode of information presentation and measuring emotional arousal as well. Both believers and skeptics showed increased emotional arousal when presented with counter attitudinal information, but only believers showed selective learning of the information. These findings are discussed in light of dissonance theory and selective learning.