Why we believe what is not true

When I read different social media I am amazed at what people write reflecting what they believe as true, at what they pass along and promote. A word or phrase is repeated over and over and it becomes fact in some people’s minds. Wind turbines kill whales- except there is no scientific evidence, our borders are open- except they aren’t, Social Security is bankrupt – but it can’t be so, COVID vaccines cause serious illness – except studies show the incidence at around 0.03% and on and on.

What makes us so susceptible to rhetoric, propaganda and manipulation? Why don’t we take a few minutes to search out facts? Mixing misinformation and politics can be disastrous with long-term consequences and politicians are the masters of misinformation.

There are many reasons why people believe things that are not true. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Confirmation bias. This is the tendency to seek out and interpret information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs. For example, if we believe that vaccines cause autism, we are more likely to pay attention to news stories and studies that support that belief, and we are more likely to discount studies that show that vaccines do not cause autism.
• Motivated reasoning. This is the tendency to reason in a way that supports our desired conclusions. For example, if we are opposed to abortion, we may be more likely to interpret ambiguous evidence in a way that supports our opposition to abortion.
• Cognitive biases. These are mental shortcuts that we use to make decisions quickly and efficiently. However, cognitive biases can also lead us to make mistakes. For example, the availability heuristic is the tendency to judge the likelihood of something happening based on how easily examples of that thing come to mind. This can lead us to believe that things are more common than they actually are, especially if we are exposed to a lot of examples of those things in the media or in our personal lives.
• Misinformation. This is false information that is spread unintentionally. Misinformation can be spread through social media, news stories, or even word-of-mouth.
• Disinformation. This is false information that is spread intentionally to deceive people. Disinformation can be spread by foreign governments, political operatives, or even individuals who simply want to cause trouble.

It is important to note that people of all intelligence levels and backgrounds can be susceptible to believing things that are not true. However, there are some things that can make people more likely to believe false information, such as:

• Emotional arousal. When we are feeling strong emotions, such as fear, anger, or sadness, we are more likely to make decisions without thinking critically. This can make us more susceptible to believing false information, especially if the information is presented in a way that appeals to our emotions.
• Lack of knowledge. If we do not have a good understanding of a topic, we are more likely to be fooled by false information. This is because we may not have the knowledge to recognize the flaws in the information or to find other sources of information to verify it.
• Trust in the source. We are more likely to believe information if it comes from a source that we trust. This could be a friend, family member, or even a news organization that we have come to rely on for accurate information. However, it is important to remember that even trusted sources can make mistakes, and that it is important to be critical of all information, regardless of the source.

Remember, everyone is susceptible to believing things that are not true. The important thing is to be critical of all information and to be willing to change your mind if you are presented with new evidence.