American Economic Review
ISSN 0002-8282 (Print) | ISSN 1944-7981 (Online)
Persuasion: The Art of Changing Worldviews
American Economic Review
(pp. 996–1031)
Abstract
Persuaders often face the task of changing their listeners' worldview, which may involve conveying evidence that disconfirms that view. It has been shown, however, that people are often reluctant to change their worldviews. These aspects of persuasion cannot be captured in the standard Bayesian framework. The paper identifies the constraints, opportunities, and trade-offs of persuading people to change worldview. It finds necessary and sufficient conditions under which it is optimal for persuaders to do so. It also shows when and how they conceal disconfirming evidence and take advantage of their listener's existing worldview.Citation
Galperti, Simone. 2019. "Persuasion: The Art of Changing Worldviews." American Economic Review 109 (3): 996–1031. DOI: 10.1257/aer.20161441Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D82 Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
- D83 Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
- D91 Micro-Based Behavioral Economics: Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making