"For as long as there has been written text, there has been misinformation. Our contemporary interconnected society allows for misinformation to spread rapidly and cause individual and social problems. In Misguided, Matthew Facciani analyzes how and why false information is dangerous, including how misinformation fuels violence against minority groups, exacerbated the COVID pandemic, and how it contributed to the attempted insurrection in January 2021. While it is common to engage the problem of misinformation through broad social issues like polarized politics or individual psychological factors like confirmation bias, Misguided focuses attention on the interaction of the individual and the social and how they reinforce one another. Addressing just one he argues is insufficient. At the micro level he shows how identities create motivation to maintain consistency between the information we encounter and our values. At the meso level he shows the role that interpersonal networks play in the spread of misinformation. At the macro level, he discusses the various incentives in the news media, social media, and politics that support misinformation. He concludes with recommendations at each of the three levels for how we as individuals and a society can combatmisinformation"-- Provided by publisher.
Why are people inclined to believe misinformation? This wide-ranging and comprehensive book shines a light on how false beliefs take root and spread, exploring the cognitive, emotional, and social factors that make us susceptible.
Why are people inclined to believe misinformation? This wide-ranging and comprehensive book shines a light on how false beliefs take root and spread, exploring the cognitive, emotional, and social factors that make us all susceptible to misinformation.
Challenging approaches that focus solely on education and media literacy, Matthew Facciani emphasizes the important role identities and social ties have in the complex interplay of forces that lead people to believe things that are not true. Susceptibility to misinformation is largely shaped by social dynamics. The pressure to affirm ones personal and group identities can leave individuals vulnerable to false beliefs. Facciani examines both offline and online connections, highlighting how social media, news media, and personal networks can promote and amplify false claims. To bring social-scientific findings to life, he shares the stories of people who fell for misinformation, with contemporary examples including the COVID-19 pandemic and antivaccine movement.
Facciani examines the effectiveness of various approaches to combating misinformation, underscoring the importance of understanding the psychological and sociological mechanisms behind its spread. He provides actionable recommendations for reducing the influence of misinformation at all levels, from having productive conversations with friends and family to rebuilding trust in institutions. Distilling the latest research accessibly and featuring compelling case studies, Misguided equips readers with practical strategies to counteract false beliefs.
