On the one hand, and on the other: The effect of embodying balance and uncertainty orientation on the confirmation bias

Abstract

The moderating effects of embodied cognition and uncertainty orientation were examined in relation to the confirmation bias. Specifically, the alternate movement of both hands palms up, which often accompanies the expression "on the one hand, and on the other" relating to the weighing of an argument, was manipulated. Uncertainty orientation distinguishes between people who are uncertainty-oriented (UOs), that confront uncertainty with the intention of resolving it, and people who are oriented toward certainty (COs), in that they attempt to maintain certainty, by creating a predictable environment. A predicted significant interaction was found for attitude polarization and a marginal effect was found for selective exposure, but the latter was found only for women. Several other dependent measures did not yield predicted results.Nevertheless, the study does show a link between uncertainty orientation and embodiment effects. Implications are discussed.

Social and Ecological High Influential Factors in Community Gardens Innovation: An Empirical Survey in Italy

“…Thus, Social Innovation is able to achieve benefit for society and also enhance society's capacity to act [9]. Topics dealt with in the literature on sustainability and social innovation are focused more deeply on the conditions and dynamics of innovations and their role for a wider transformation of models in social organization and collective decision-making [10][11][12]. Hence, the main goal of social innovation is to achieve sustainable transformation to for meet social needs.…”