Creating Convergence: Debiasing Biased Litigants

Law & Social Inquiry, October 1997

14 Pages Posted: 19 Sep 1997 Last revised: 17 Sep 2013

See all articles by Linda Babcock

Linda Babcock

Carnegie Mellon University - H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management

George Loewenstein

Carnegie Mellon University - Department of Social and Decision Sciences

Samuel Issacharoff

New York University School of Law

Date Written: March 1, 1997

Abstract

Previous experimental research conducted by the authors has found that self-serving biases are a major cause of negotiation impasses. This article reports experimental studies that test the ability to counteract the biased integration of information that can impede settlement. In this study, we show that a simple intervention can mitigate such biases and promote efficients settlement of disputes.

JEL Classification: K41

Suggested Citation

Babcock, Linda C. and Loewenstein, George F. and Issacharoff, Samuel, Creating Convergence: Debiasing Biased Litigants (March 1, 1997). Law & Social Inquiry, October 1997, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=11367

Linda C. Babcock

Carnegie Mellon University - H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management ( email )

Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States
412-268-8789 (Phone)
412-268-7036 (Fax)

George F. Loewenstein

Carnegie Mellon University - Department of Social and Decision Sciences ( email )

Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States
412-268-8787 (Phone)
412-268-6938 (Fax)

Samuel Issacharoff (Contact Author)

New York University School of Law ( email )

40 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012-1099
United States
212-998-6580 (Phone)
212-995-3150 (Fax)