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The Incentives Lab
HBT-COG-0379 · Dimension COG · Cognition

Identity-Protective Cognition

We process evidence in ways that protect our group identity.

Belief·Concept·Grade C·draft· enriching…

Scientific Definition

We process evidence in ways that protect our group identity.

Plain-English Definition

We process evidence in ways that protect our group identity.

Feynman Explanation

Facts arrive; identity decides which ones survive.

Core Principle

We process evidence in ways that protect our group identity.

Mechanisms

Psychological

Pending editorial review.

Behavioral Economic

Pending editorial review.

Neurological

Pending editorial review.

Evolutionary

Pending editorial review.

Sociological

Pending editorial review.

Computational

Pending editorial review.

Systems

Pending editorial review.

Inputs (Triggers)

Pending editorial review.

Outputs (Behaviors)

Pending editorial review.

Behavioral Signature

Facts arrive; identity decides which ones survive.

Examples

Everyday
  • Partisans rate identical data differently when told the source.
Modern (Organizational)
  • Strategy debates that map to factions become unwinnable on evidence alone.
Historical

Pending editorial review.

Famous Experiments

Pending editorial review.

Design Principles

  • Decouple the message from the messenger; use blind reviews.

Measurement Approaches

Pending editorial review.

Evidence

Evidence Grade
C (A strongest → E speculative)
Replication
★★☆☆☆
Intervention Confidence
2 / 5
Consensus
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Limitations
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Open Research Questions

Pending editorial review.

Primary References

Pending editorial review.

Signature Section

The Perverse Incentive Lens™

How this behavior is exploited — and how to redesign around it.

Exploitation
Model outputs framed as opposing one's tribe get rejected regardless of accuracy.
Amplifying Incentives
Strategy debates that map to factions become unwinnable on evidence alone.
Org Failure Modes
Strategy debates that map to factions become unwinnable on evidence alone.
Societal Failure Modes
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Ethical Considerations
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Redesign Strategies
Decouple the message from the messenger; use blind reviews.
Diagnostic Questions
  • Decouple the message from the messenger; use blind reviews.
Warning Signs

Pending editorial review.

Red Flags

Pending editorial review.

Intervention Playbook
Individual
Decouple the message from the messenger; use blind reviews.
Team
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Organization
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Policy
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
AI Implications
Detection
Model outputs framed as opposing one's tribe get rejected regardless of accuracy.
Measurement
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Mitigation
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).
Responsible Use
Pending editorial review (HBT v1.0 auto-seed).

Interactive Mini Network

Click any neighbor to re-center the graph and follow the threads of connection.

HBT-COG-0379 · COG
Identity-Protective Cognition
ICAcAccountabilityASAdverse SelectionAuAuthorityAwAweBLBalancing LoopBeBelongingCACollective Action Pr…CoCompetenceCOConflict of InterestCoContrast

Knowledge Graph Neighbors

Version History

v1.1.0 · 2026-06-28Initial auto-seed from corpus.