Argumentation and the diffusion of counter-intuitive beliefs

Research in cultural evolution has focused on the spread of intuitive or minimally counterintuitive beliefs. However, some very counterintuitive beliefs can also spread successfully, at least in some communities-scientific theories being the most prominent example. We suggest that argumentation coul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of experimental psychology. General Vol. 146; no. 7; p. 1052
Main Authors Claidière, Nicolas, Trouche, Emmanuel, Mercier, Hugo
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.07.2017
Subjects
Adolescent
Communication
Cultural Evolution
Culture
Female
Humans
Male
Problem Solving
Young Adult
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Summary:Research in cultural evolution has focused on the spread of intuitive or minimally counterintuitive beliefs. However, some very counterintuitive beliefs can also spread successfully, at least in some communities-scientific theories being the most prominent example. We suggest that argumentation could be an important factor in the spread of some very counterintuitive beliefs. A first experiment demonstrates that argumentation enables the spread of the counterintuitive answer to a reasoning problem in large discussion groups, whereas this spread is limited or absent when participants can show their answers to each other but cannot discuss. A series of experiments using the technique of repeated transmission show that, in the case of the counterintuitive belief studied: (a) arguments can help spread this belief without loss; (b) conformist bias does not help spread this belief; and (c) authority or prestige bias play a minimal role in helping spread this belief. Thus, argumentation seems to be necessary and sufficient for the spread of some counterintuitive beliefs. (PsycINFO Database Record
ISSN:1939-2222
DOI:10.1037/xge0000323