[LINK] Why Should We Believe the Panel on Climate Change?

[Stilgherrian]

On 15/07/2010, at 2:00 PM, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
> In Politics, Sometimes The Facts Don't Matter
> [USA] National Public Radio
> http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128490874
> 
> This is TALK OF THE NATION. I’m Neal Conan in Washington.
> 
> We'd like to believe that most of what we know is accurate and that if 
> presented with facts to prove we're wrong, we would sheepishly accept 
> the truth and change our views accordingly.
> 
> A new body of research out of the University of Michigan suggests that's 
> not what happens, that we base our opinions on beliefs and when 
> presented with contradictory facts, we adhere to our original belief 
> even more strongly.
> 
> The phenomenon is called backfire, and it plays an especially important 
> role in how we shape and solidify our beliefs on immigration, the 
> president's place of birth, welfare and other highly partisan issues.
> 
> ... etc


More at:
"How facts backfire
Researchers discover a surprising threat to democracy: our brains"
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/11/how_facts_backfire/

Stil


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