PhD Defence Xinxin Zhu

Keywords: Self-image, Motivated Reasoning, Experimental economics, Asymmetric updating, Selective Recall 
 

"Self-Image and Motivated Reasoning"

This dissertation investigates how the motivation to maintain a positive self-image shapes belief formation and memory in the domains of personal taste and altruism. It provides evidence that taste is an ego-relevant attribute that can induce motivated reasoning. Owners of an artistic item exhibit asymmetric belief updating, placing more weight on positive signals about the item's popularity than negative ones to reinforce their self-image of having good taste. This influences their valuation of the item and has implications for market dynamics. The research also examines asymmetric updating and selective recall in the context of altruism. Participants update beliefs self-servingly about their own altruism and engage in motivated misremembering of altruistic actions. The findings shed light on the cognitive processes underlying the construction of a moral self-image. Overall, the dissertation highlights the pervasive influence of motivated reasoning on beliefs and memory in ego-relevant domains. 

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