"Why do coherent belief systems sometimes tolerate incoherence?" New Special Research Area funded by FWF
"Why Do Coherent Belief Systems Tolerate Incoherence? Belief Update Failures in Society" project approved for FWF’s Special Research Areas funding - € 3.8 million over four years, with a possibility of extension to another four years.
We warmly congratulate professors
Agnes Melinda Kovacs, Natalie Sebanz and Eva Wittenberg from CEU Department of Cognitive Science;
Mats Koster and Adam Szeidl from CEU’s Department of Economics;
and Susann Fiedler from the Vienna University of Economics and Business on this achievement!
"Beliefs shape our behavior and how we perceive reality. But even if we don't want to admit it, cognitive "belief systems" often contain profound contradictions. Some beliefs are even sustained despite evidence to the contrary. This Special Research Area aims to understand the cognitive processes that lead to beliefs and the mechanisms that cause people to develop "coherently incoherent beliefs." The objective is to better understand the impact of these dynamics on individuals and society.
An interdisciplinary team from the fields of psychology, cognitive science, linguistics, and economics is investigating the interplay between core beliefs, which are deeply rooted in identity, and evidence-based beliefs, which are shaped by experience and reason. The project will also investigate the role of language in shaping and maintaining belief structures, as well as the economic and political consequences of false or contradictory beliefs. Taking innovative approaches, the Special Research Area will offer insights into pressing societal challenges such as polarization, misinformation, and social cohesion, and provide new incentives for researchers and policy-makers."
The project is due to begin in the first half of 2025.