When Prophecy Fails,
If deciding to swim upstream, clicking on this source will bring readers straight to the horse's mouth, or should I say, straight to When Prophecy Fails. The study from the book that is referenced in the article gives an example and aids in introducing the concept of motivated reasoning
In a 1967 study,
In the interest of "swimming", clicking on this link will swim you right into a dam, or what resembles the gathering work for a research assignment. Unlike the last link, which brings the reader right to the source, this link requires readers to extensively search for a study that they don't even know enough about to find. Any reader that clicks on this link will most likely get nowhere fast.
they seek out agreeable information and learn it more easily; and they avoid, ignore, devalue, forget, or argue against information that contradicts their beliefs.
this sort of reminds me of the concept of people wanting to practice what they excel in rather than what they may be lacking in
The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before.”
the term "speaking to a brick wall" comes to mind
there are things you want so badly to believe that they become as facts to you.
I know the article is just beginning at this point, but this statement to me seems like it almost infers to the so-called 'beliefs' that many people on opposite radical poles of the political spectrum cling to. Wanting their side to prevail more than anything else, they tell themselves inflated claims over and over again until these claims are believed to be completely accurate and factual by these people.