Final answer:
Basic human motives can influence construal through motivated reasoning and cognitive dissonance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Basic human motives can influence construal, which is the way people interpret and make sense of information and experiences. One way that basic human motives influence construal is through the concept of motivated reasoning. Motivated reasoning occurs when people interpret information in a way that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs and desires. For example, if someone has a strong desire to be liked, they may interpret a neutral comment from a friend as a compliment.
Another way that basic human motives influence construal is through the concept of cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is the feeling of discomfort that arises when there is a conflict between our attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors. To reduce this discomfort, people may change their attitudes or beliefs to align with their actions. For example, if someone believes that smoking is harmful to their health but continues to smoke, they may change their belief by rationalizing that smoking helps them relax.