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- Title
Believing When the Facts Don't Fit.
- Authors
Lichtenberg, James W.
- Abstract
The article discusses about sex-bias and sex-role stereotyping in counseling. The issue in the article is not about sex-bias or sex-role per se, but rather the question is do people modify their beliefs when, after researching, the facts are counter to their believes. Two cases are given to discuss the issue. These two studies indicate that people's beliefs can not only survive powerful logical and empirical challenges, but also that they may be bolstered by evidence that otherwise uncommitted observers would likely agree logically demands some weakening of them. They may even survive the total destruction of their original evidentiary base. Additionally, the findings suggest that mixed evidence does not have a moderating effect on people's attitudes or believes, but rather is apt to polarize them. Not only is each side in a dispute likely to accept more or less at face value any evidence that seems to support their position, but they are also likely to offer every possible challenge to any evidence that supports their opponent's view. Although, it is true that there is nothing so practical as a good theory, it seems that people pay a price for their theories. People pay a price of belief perseverance in the face of contradiction, and it is a price that scientists and practitioners cannot ignore.
- Subjects
COUNSELING; GENDER role; SEXISM; THEORY-practice relationship; GENDER stereotypes; APPLIED psychology
- Publication
Journal of Counseling & Development, 1984, Vol 63, Issue 1, p10
- ISSN
0748-9633
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/j.1556-6676.1984.tb02670.x