Open-Minded Cognition

The present research conceptualizes open-minded cognition as a cognitive style that influences how individuals select and process information. an open-minded cognitive style is marked by willingness to consider a variety of intellectual perspectives,values,opinions,or beliefs—even those that contradict the individual’s opinion. an individual’s level of cognitive openness is expected to vary across domains (such as politics and religion). four studies develop and validate a novel measure of open-minded cognition,as well as two domain-specific measures of religious and political open-minded cognition. exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (controlling for acquiescence bias) are used to develop the scales in studies 1 to 3. study 4 demonstrates that these scales possess convergent and discriminant validity. study 5 demonstrates the scale’s unique predictive validity using the outcome of empathic concern (davis,1980). study 6 demonstrates the scale’s unique predictive validity using the outcomes of warmth toward racial,religious,and sexual minorities. © 2015,© 2015 by the society for personality and social psychology,inc.