Open AccessFrom Selective Exposure to Selective Information Processing: A Motivated Reasoning Approach
Author(s) -
Lindita Camaj
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
media and communication
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.804
H-Index - 19
ISSN - 2183-2439
DOI - 10.17645/mac.v7i3.2289
Subject(s) - deliberation , selective attention , underpinning , argument (complex analysis) , psychology , information processing , selection (genetic algorithm) , confirmation bias , cognitive psychology , social psychology , epistemology , computer science , cognition , artificial intelligence , political science , politics , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , civil engineering , neuroscience , law , engineering
Literature suggests that while without doubt people engage in selective exposure to information, this does not entail that they also engage in selective avoidance of opinion-challenging information . However, cross-cutting exposure does not always lead to dispassionate deliberation. In this commentary I explore psychological conditions as they apply to attitude-based selection and make an argument that selectivity does not stop at exposure but continues as audiences engage with information they encounter and incorporate in their decision-making. I propose the theory of motivated reasoning as a rich theoretical underpinning that helps us understand selective exposure and selective information processing.