People Sometimes Seek the Truth, but Most Prefer Like-minded Views
We swim in a sea of information, but filter out most of what we see or hear. New analysis of data from dozens of studies sheds new light on how we choose what we do and do not hear. The study found that while people tend to avoid information that contradicts what they already think or believe, certain factors can cause them to seek out, or at least consider, other points of view.
The analysis, led by researchers at the University of Illinois and the University of Florida, included data from 91 studies involving nearly 8,000 participants. It puts to rest a longstanding debate over whether people actively avoid information that contradicts what they believe, or whether they are simply exposed more often to ideas that conform to their own because they tend to be surrounded by like-minded people. (more…)
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‘Happiness Gap’ in the US Narrows
Happiness inequality in the U.S. has decreased since the 1970s, according to research published this month in the Journal of Legal Studies.
The study, by University of Pennsylvania economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, found that the American population as a whole is no happier than it was three decades ago. But happiness inequality—the gap between the happy and the not-so-happy—has narrowed significantly.
“Americans are becoming more similar to each other in terms of reported happiness,” says Stevenson. “It’s an interesting finding because other research shows increasing gaps in income, consumption and leisure time.” (more…)
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