Self-Persuasion: Evidence from Field Experiments at International Debating Competitions
通过国际辩论赛的随机分配实验，发现即使是有经验的辩手在被迫支持某一立场后，也会在事实信念和立场信心上产生自我说服，且这种效应在激烈辩论和高额激励下依然存在。
Laboratory evidence shows that when people have to argue for a given position, they persuade themselves about the position’s factual and moral superiority. Such self-persuasion limits the potential of communication to resolve conflict and reduce polarization. We test for this phenomenon in a field setting, at international debating competitions that randomly assign experienced and motivated debaters to argue one side of a topical motion. We find self-persuasion in factual beliefs and confidence in one’s position. Effect sizes are smaller than in the laboratory, but robust to a one-hour exchange of arguments and a tenfold increase in incentives for accuracy.