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Apparent Bias: What Does Attitude Polarization Show?

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  • Jean‐Pierre Benoît
  • Juan Dubra

Abstract

Many, though not all, experiments have found that exposing groups of subjects who disagree to the same evidence may cause their initial attitudes to strengthen and move further apart, or polarize. Some have concluded that findings of attitude polarization show that people process information in a biased manner so as to support their initial views. We argue that, on the contrary, polarization is often what we should expect to find in an unbiased Bayesian population, in the context of experiments that find polarization.

Suggested Citation

  • Jean‐Pierre Benoît & Juan Dubra, 2019. "Apparent Bias: What Does Attitude Polarization Show?," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 60(4), pages 1675-1703, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:iecrev:v:60:y:2019:i:4:p:1675-1703
    DOI: 10.1111/iere.12400
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    Cited by:

    1. Axel Anderson & Nikoloz Pkhakadze, 2023. "Polarizing Persuasion," Working Papers gueconwpa~23-23-04, Georgetown University, Department of Economics.
    2. Marino, Maria & Iacono, Roberto & Mollerstrom, Johanna, 2023. "(Mis-)perceptions, information, and political polarization," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 119268, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    3. Hassan Afrouzi & Carolina Arteaga & Emily Weisburst, 2022. "Can Leaders Persuade? Examining Movement in Immigration Beliefs," CESifo Working Paper Series 9593, CESifo.
    4. Eguia, Jon & Hu, Tai-Wei, 2022. "Voter Polarization and Extremism," Working Papers 2022-5, Michigan State University, Department of Economics.

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