• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Rationalizations primarily serve reputation management, not decision making
  • Contributor: Altay, Sacha; Mercier, Hugo
  • imprint: Cambridge University Press (CUP), 2020
  • Published in: Behavioral and Brain Sciences
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x19002115
  • ISSN: 0140-525X; 1469-1825
  • Keywords: Behavioral Neuroscience ; Physiology ; Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>We agree with Cushman that rationalizations are the product of biological adaptations, but we disagree about their function. The data available do not show that rationalizations allow us to reason better and make better decisions. The data suggest instead that rationalizations serve reputation management goals, and that they affect our behaviors because we are held accountable by our peers.</jats:p>