THE DISTORTION OF INFORMATION DURING DECISIONS

During a decision might a preexisting preference lead to the distortio n of new information in favor of the preferred alternative? An experim ent that furnished one alternative with a prior preference found such predecisional distortion. It was also found that in the absence of any initial preference, a developing preference for one alternative led t o the distortion of new information so as to favor that leading altern ative. The distortion from both sources, preexisting and developing pr eferences, exceeded the postddecisional distortion from cognitive diss onance reduction. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.