Cognitive and Emotional Correlates of Belief in Political Misinformation:Who Endorses Partisan Misbeliefs?

Carmen Sanchez, David Dunning

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Across two studies, we investigated how much cognitive variables and emotional dynamics anticipated endorsement of politically partisan misbeliefs. In Study 1 (n = 298), those with lower levels of cognitive ability endorsed more political misbeliefs regardless of whether those beliefs aligned with their political preferences. However, emotional investment in political parties and outcomes predicted who endorsed misbeliefs in a partisan manner. In Study 2 (n = 251), asking participants to briefly consider political misinformation as true via social consensus led them to feel dissonance, particularly for incompatible beliefs. Allowing them then to endorse or reject those misbeliefs reduced that dissonance yet maintained feelings of self-validation, particularly as participants rejected beliefs hostile to their political vies. This effect was stronger for emotionally invested participants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1091-1102
Number of pages12
JournalEmotion
Volume21
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • affective polarization
  • dissonance
  • misinformation
  • partisanship
  • political attitudes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

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