Minnesota Public Radio: When what you believe doesn't agree with the facts

Release Date: February 16, 2010 This content is archived.

Print

A story on Minnesota Public Radio about people who refuse to believe there is no link between vaccines and autism looks at the role that "motivated reasoning" plays, and reports the phenomenon is described by researchers from UB and other institutions, who have found that people suffer from uncomfortable cognitive dissonance when they hear information that conflicts with their existing beliefs, and then seek out information that supports their original opinion while ignoring contradictory information.

Media Contact Information

John Della Contrada
Vice President for University Communications
521 Capen Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260
Tel: 716-645-4094 (mobile: 716-361-3006)
dellacon@buffalo.edu
Twitter: UBNewsSource