Pre-existing beliefs and expectations influence judgments of novel health information

J Health Psychol. 2012 Jul;17(5):753-63. doi: 10.1177/1359105311421044. Epub 2011 Oct 13.

Abstract

The present study examined whether health information is judged differently depending on pre-existing beliefs and expectations. People's initial beliefs and expectations were assessed by a questionnaire about acupuncture and a trustworthiness and preference rating task of doctors' faces. Then, newspaper headlines about novel acupuncture treatment were shown and rated for their feasibility in a normal and framed condition. The judged feasibility of the newspaper headlines correlated strongly with initial beliefs about acupuncture in the normal condition, and with initial expectations towards a doctor's face in the framed condition. Thus, as suggested by Bayes Theorem, pre-existing beliefs and expectations influence judgments of novel health information.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acupuncture Therapy / psychology*
  • Acupuncture*
  • Adult
  • Bayes Theorem
  • Facial Expression*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Judgment*
  • Male
  • Republic of Korea
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Trust*
  • Young Adult