Skeptic

skeptic@sh.itjust.works

360 readers

11 active

0 users here now

The skeptic movement is a collective endeavor that promotes the respect for knowledge and truth, methodological naturalism, science, reason, critical thinking, and consumer protection, and aims to distinguish legitimate science from pseudoscience, uphold ideological freedom, understand cognitive biases, address specific flawed or pseudoscientific claims, maintain cultural memory of past pseudosciences and scams, and improve science communication and journalism.

founded 3 years ago

moderation log

moderators

lewosadebu@sh.itjust.works

Believing misinformation is a “win” for some people, even when proven false (arstechnica.com)

submitted 1 year ago by ooli3@sopuli.xyz to c/skeptic@sh.itjust.works

2 comments fedilink hide all child comments

other discussions

Believing misinformation is a “win” for some people, even when proven false (arstechnica.com)

submitted 1 year ago by Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone to c/science@mander.xyz

40 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The strongest predictor of whether someone believed in COVID-19-related misinformation and risks related to the vaccine was whether they viewed COVID-19 prevention efforts in terms of symbolic strength and weakness. In other words, this group focused on whether an action would make them appear to fend off or “give in” to untoward influence.

[…]

Our findings highlight the limits of countering misinformation directly, because for some people, literal truth is not the point.

Believing misinformation is a “win” for some people, even when proven false (arstechnica.com)

submitted 1 year ago by Catoblepas@piefed.blahaj.zone to c/science@beehaw.org

5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The strongest predictor of whether someone believed in COVID-19-related misinformation and risks related to the vaccine was whether they viewed COVID-19 prevention efforts in terms of symbolic strength and weakness. In other words, this group focused on whether an action would make them appear to fend off or “give in” to untoward influence.

[…]

Our findings highlight the limits of countering misinformation directly, because for some people, literal truth is not the point.

Believing misinformation is a “win” for some people, even when proven false (arstechnica.com)

submitted 1 year ago by technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/fediverse_vs_disinfo@lemmy.dbzer0.com

5 comments fedilink hide all child comments

It is possible that symbolic, but not exactly true, beliefs have some downstream benefit, such as serving as negotiation tactics, loyalty tests, or a fake-it-till-you-make-it long game that somehow, eventually, becomes a reality. Political theorist Murray Edelman, known for his work on political symbolism, noted that politicians often prefer scoring symbolic points over delivering results—it’s easier. Leaders can offer symbolism when they have little tangible to provide.