Solution Aversion: On the Relation Between Ideology and Motivated Disbelief
Abstract
There is often a curious distinction between what the scientific community and the
general population believe to be true of dire scientific issues, and this skepticism
tends to vary markedly across groups. For instance, in the case of climate change,
Republicans (conservatives) are especially skeptical of the relevant science, particularly
when they are compared with Democrats (liberals). What causes such radical group differences?
We suggest, as have previous accounts, that this phenomenon is often motivated. However,
the source of this motivation is not necessarily an aversion to the problem, per se,
but an aversion to the solutions associated with the problem. This difference in underlying
process holds important implications for understanding, predicting, and influencing
motivated skepticism. In 4 studies, we tested this solution aversion explanation for
why people are often so divided over evidence and why this divide often occurs so
saliently across political party lines. Studies 1, 2, and 3— using correlational and
experimental methodologies— demonstrated that Republicans’ increased skepticism toward
environmental sciences may be partly attributable to a conflict between specific ideological
values and the most popularly discussed environmental solutions. Study 4 found that,
in a different domain (crime), those holding a more liberal ideology (support for
gun control) also show skepticism motivated by solution aversion.
Type
Journal articlePermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/9256Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1037/a0037963Publication Info
Campbell, T; & Kay, A (2014). Solution Aversion: On the Relation Between Ideology and Motivated Disbelief. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 107(5). pp. 809-824. 10.1037/a0037963. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/9256.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
Collections
More Info
Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Aaron Charles Kay
J. Rex Fuqua Distinguished Professor of International Management
Aaron C. Kay (PhD 2005, Stanford University) is the J Rex Fuqua Professor of Management
and Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience at Duke University. His research focuses
on the relation between motivation, implicit social cognition, and social issues.
He has a particular interest in how basic motivations and needs manifest as specific
social and societal beliefs. These include (but are not limited to) the causes and
consequences of stereotyping and system justification, religious belief

Articles written by Duke faculty are made available through the campus open access policy. For more information see: Duke Open Access Policy
Rights for Collection: Scholarly Articles
Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info