Arizona State University (ASU) MKT302 Applied Marketing Management and Leadership Exam 1 Practice

Selective distortion occurs when an individual interprets information in a way that aligns with their existing beliefs, attitudes, or experiences. This cognitive bias means that people are likely to distort or interpret incoming data to fit their preconceived notions. For instance, if someone holds a strong belief about a brand or product, they might overlook negative reviews or exaggerate positive feedback to maintain their view. This highlights how previous experiences can shape the understanding and perception of marketing messages.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the concept of selective distortion. The failure to notice irrelevant information pertains more to selective attention, which is a different psychological process. Retaining useful marketing information relates to memory and information processing, while strategies for capturing consumer attention focus on marketing tactics rather than the internal interpretation of information. Understanding selective distortion is crucial for marketers because it underscores the importance of aligning messaging with the target audience's beliefs to ensure effective communication.