Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
Confusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively...Show moreConfusion is often present in the process of learning new information. Research spanning the last 30 years has concluded that confusion and interest towards new complex information are negatively related in the process of gathering new knowledge. Confusion may reduce interest in the process of exploring new information. In an experimental setting, this research investigated whether it is possible to increase interest via a mindset-based reappraisal of the apparent confusion. Participants either did or did not receive a message reappraising that confusion during complexity is normal or even helpful. Participants then read three complex texts and assessed their levels of confusion, perceived complexity, interest, and desire to know more. Results reported support the hypothesis that reappraising confusion as helpful increases interest in complex informationShow less
The current study examines how to introduce complex novelty in a way that people become more interested, motivated to know more about it, and less confused. We test the prediction that a focus on...Show moreThe current study examines how to introduce complex novelty in a way that people become more interested, motivated to know more about it, and less confused. We test the prediction that a focus on discovery of new information vs a focus on specific information that is missing creates more interest, more motivation to explore, and less confusion towards complex innovations, while perceived complexity is predicted to remain the same. In total 102 participants were tested. They were presented with message framing manipulation, which put their focus on either general discovery or specific information that is missing, after which they had to read texts containing complex information. In contrast to our expectations, complexity did not remain the same across conditions. Participants in the diversive frame condition rated the information about the innovations to be more complex than the specific frame condition. Moreover, participants in the diversive frame condition were not more interested, more motivated to and less confused about the complex innovations than in the specific frame condition. Implication and future research of these findings are discussed at the end.Show less
As we move towards a technologically sophisticated future, society finds itself confronted with various types of complex novelties. People may however withdraw from information on such novelties...Show moreAs we move towards a technologically sophisticated future, society finds itself confronted with various types of complex novelties. People may however withdraw from information on such novelties due to feelings of confusion or unfamiliarity. We argue that this negative psychological impact of complexity may be shaped by means of message framing. Respective frames may either create a general discovery motive or focuses on specific information that is missing to close any gaps in knowledge. The results of our online experiment with a mixed design (N = 101) indicated that message framing however did not affect participants’ interest, motivation to know more, or confusion towards complex innovations. Contrary to our predictions, we did find that frames based on a general discovery motive resulted in higher levels of perceived complexity. Possible explanations for these results, shortcomings of the applied methodology, and theoretical implications for future research are discussed.Show less
While fewer people endorse blatant sexism, sexism is still an ongoing problem. Several measures have been taken to create awareness, but the question arises whether the confirming messages, for...Show moreWhile fewer people endorse blatant sexism, sexism is still an ongoing problem. Several measures have been taken to create awareness, but the question arises whether the confirming messages, for example, from the media or studies might give cues to women that they are being excluded. This research hypothesizes that if women pick up cues from confirming messages, it leads to more feelings of social exclusion compared to a context in which sexism is denied or is not mentioned. This research examines the effects of the confirmation of sexism on social exclusion, need-threats, feelings, motivation to apply, and expectations of their chances on the labor market. In this between-subjects study (confirmation of sexism vs. modern sexism vs. control condition), 157 female students from Leiden University completed a questionnaire. This study showed that women in the confirmation of sexism condition reported more feelings of social exclusion, more need-threats, more negative feelings, lower motivation to apply for a job, and lower expectations of their chances on the labor market compared to the other conditions. These results support the hypothesis that confirming sexism is more harmful than a context of modern sexism or not mentioning sexism, but more research is needed to provide general support for this hypothesis.Show less
In modern society, there is an increased attention for the acknowledgement of sexism. This comes almost as a counter movement against modern sexism, a form in which sexism is denied. The goal of...Show moreIn modern society, there is an increased attention for the acknowledgement of sexism. This comes almost as a counter movement against modern sexism, a form in which sexism is denied. The goal of this study was to investigate potential negative effects of exposure to acknowledgement of sexism, such as feelings of exclusion and low motivation to apply for a job. 161 female participants from a Dutch university, divided over three conditions, filled in a survey in order to measure exclusion and motivation to apply. The three conditions were the acknowledgement of sexism, modern sexism and a control condition. We found significant results for our hypotheses. The acknowledgement of sexism leads to feelings of exclusion, low need fulfilment, negative feelings, low expectancy to get a job and low motivation to apply for one. This shows that exposure to the acknowledgement sexism in, for example, the media can have negative effects. This thesis also provides several suggestions on how messages concerning the acknowledgment of sexism can be communicated, including future research suggestions.Show less
