Social and cognitive aspects of the vulnerability to political misinformation
In the last few years, especially after the Brexit referendum and the 2016 U.S. elections, there has been a surge in academic interest for misinformation and disinformation. Social, cognitive, and political scientists' work on these phenomena has focused on two main aspects: <br><br>...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2021
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| _version_ | 1797106809183404032 |
|---|---|
| author | Pantazi, M Hale, S Klein, O |
| author_facet | Pantazi, M Hale, S Klein, O |
| author_sort | Pantazi, M |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | In the last few years, especially after the Brexit referendum and the 2016 U.S. elections, there has been a surge in academic interest for misinformation and disinformation. Social, cognitive, and political scientists' work on these phenomena has focused on two main aspects:
<br><br>
<p style="margin-left:3%; margin-right:3%;">- Individuals' (and by extension societies') vulnerability to misinformation; </p>
<br>
<p style="margin-left:3%; margin-right:3%;">- Factors and interventions that can increase individuals' (and societies') resistance to misinformation. </p>
<br>
In this article, we offer a critical review of the psychological research pertaining to these two aspects. Drawing on this review, we highlight an emerging tension in the relevant literature. Indeed, the current state of the art of the political misinformation literature reflects the combined operation of two opposing psychological constructs: excess gullibility on the one hand and excess vigilance on the other. We argue that this conceptualization is important in both advancing theories of individuals' and societies' vulnerability to misinformation and in designing prospective research programs. We conclude with proposing what, in our view, are the most promising avenues for future research in the field. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:07:44Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:66bbec2c-750e-467d-b5be-d3a6e9e66671 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T07:07:44Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:66bbec2c-750e-467d-b5be-d3a6e9e666712022-05-19T13:56:39ZSocial and cognitive aspects of the vulnerability to political misinformationJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:66bbec2c-750e-467d-b5be-d3a6e9e66671EnglishSymplectic ElementsWiley2021Pantazi, MHale, SKlein, OIn the last few years, especially after the Brexit referendum and the 2016 U.S. elections, there has been a surge in academic interest for misinformation and disinformation. Social, cognitive, and political scientists' work on these phenomena has focused on two main aspects: <br><br> <p style="margin-left:3%; margin-right:3%;">- Individuals' (and by extension societies') vulnerability to misinformation; </p> <br> <p style="margin-left:3%; margin-right:3%;">- Factors and interventions that can increase individuals' (and societies') resistance to misinformation. </p> <br> In this article, we offer a critical review of the psychological research pertaining to these two aspects. Drawing on this review, we highlight an emerging tension in the relevant literature. Indeed, the current state of the art of the political misinformation literature reflects the combined operation of two opposing psychological constructs: excess gullibility on the one hand and excess vigilance on the other. We argue that this conceptualization is important in both advancing theories of individuals' and societies' vulnerability to misinformation and in designing prospective research programs. We conclude with proposing what, in our view, are the most promising avenues for future research in the field. |
| spellingShingle | Pantazi, M Hale, S Klein, O Social and cognitive aspects of the vulnerability to political misinformation |
| title | Social and cognitive aspects of the vulnerability to political misinformation |
| title_full | Social and cognitive aspects of the vulnerability to political misinformation |
| title_fullStr | Social and cognitive aspects of the vulnerability to political misinformation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social and cognitive aspects of the vulnerability to political misinformation |
| title_short | Social and cognitive aspects of the vulnerability to political misinformation |
| title_sort | social and cognitive aspects of the vulnerability to political misinformation |
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