It has often been shown that controversial material is more readily if it fits in with existing beliefs and attitudes. For example, pro-communist students learnt more readily than anti-communist students a list of statements fovourable to the U.S.S.R. That material is most easily learnt which conforms to existing opinions. The recall of controversial material may also be selective : for instance, theistic students remembered better than atheistic students statements favourable to religion and vice versa. This suggests some resistance to learning and retaining material which is not acceptable to us. Conversely we are very ready to learn from certain sources to which we are favourably inclined, such as a political weekly or a particular author whore work we admire.