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The Existence Bias

delete2009-11-01
delete129
PRE
AI
S
Scott Eidelman *
C
Christian S. Crandall
J
Jennifer Pattershall
DOI:10.1037/a0017058delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
The authors demonstrate that people treat the mere existence of something as evidence of its goodness. Studies 1 and 2 demonstrate that an existing state is evaluated more favorably than an alternative. Study 3 shows that imagining an event increases estimates of its likelihood, which in turn leads to favorable evaluation; the more likely that something will be, the more positively it is evaluated. Study 4 shows that the more a form is described as prevalent, the more aesthetically attractive is that form. This indicates a causal relationship between aesthetic judgments and existence in a domain lacking choice among alternatives. Study 5 extends the existence bias to gustatory evaluation and demonstrates that the effect is not moderated by valence. Together these studies suggest that mere existence leads to assumptions of goodness; the status quo is seen as good, right, attractive, tasty, and desirable.
Keywords:
existence
status quo bias
system justification
naturalistic fallacy
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Journal

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology cover
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
IF:
6.7
Papers:
7.0K
Citations:
8.2W

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U
University of Arkansas System
Scholars:
1.9W
Papers: 1.5W
Citations: 295
U
university of arkansas fayetteville
Scholars:
5.2K
Papers: 4.5K
Citations: 2