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Why Trusting Whom? Motivated Reasoning and Trust in the Process of Information Evaluation

In: Trust and Communication

Author

Listed:
  • Isabelle Freiling

    (University of Vienna)

  • Annie Waldherr

    (University of Vienna)

Abstract

In this chapter, we highlight that trust plays an essential role when individuals are processing and evaluating information online, and put it in context of motivated reasoning and the goals individuals pursue when evaluating information. While it would be desirable that the primary goal of information evaluation is always accuracy, research also shows that people often have a directional goal and search for information in line with their attitudes. We first introduce different notions of trust, before we provide a broad overview of information evaluation and trust models that help situate trust in information evaluation. Afterwards, we discuss what trust and distrust mean when people pursue accuracy versus directional goals and what this implies for the spread of misinformation on social media.

Suggested Citation

  • Isabelle Freiling & Annie Waldherr, 2021. "Why Trusting Whom? Motivated Reasoning and Trust in the Process of Information Evaluation," Springer Books, in: Bernd Blöbaum (ed.), Trust and Communication, edition 1, pages 83-97, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-030-72945-5_4
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-72945-5_4
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