Why individuals endorse misinformation
Our findings spotlight the bounds of countering misinformation immediately, as a result of for some individuals, literal fact just isn't the purpose.
For instance, President Donald Trump incorrectly claimed in August 2025 that crime in Washington, DC, was at an all-time excessive, producing countless fact-checks of his premise and think pieces about his dissociation from actuality.
However we imagine that to somebody with a symbolic mindset, debunkers merely reveal that they're those reacting and are due to this fact weak. The right info is definitely obtainable however is irrelevant to somebody who prioritizes a symbolic present of power. What issues is signaling one isn't listening and gained't be swayed.
In truth, for symbolic thinkers, almost any assertion must be justifiable. The extra outlandish or simply disproved one thing is, the extra highly effective one might sound when standing by it. Being an edgelord—a contrarian on-line provocateur—or outright mendacity can, in their very own odd means, seem “genuine.”
Some individuals may additionally view their favourite dissembler's claims as provocative trolling, however, given the hyperlink between this mindset and authoritarianism, they need these far-fetched claims acted on anyway. The deployment of Nationwide Guard troops to Washington, for instance, will be the specified finish purpose, even when the provided justification is a clear farce.
Is that this actually 5-D chess?
It's doable that symbolic, however not precisely true, beliefs have some downstream profit, corresponding to serving as negotiation techniques, loyalty exams, or a fake-it-till-you-make-it lengthy sport that by some means, finally, turns into a actuality. Political theorist Murray Edelman, recognized for his work on political symbolism, famous that politicians usually desire scoring symbolic factors over delivering outcomes—it's simpler. Leaders can provide symbolism once they have little tangible to supply.
Randy Stein is affiliate professor of selling at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and Abraham Rutchick is professor of psychology at California State University, Northridge.
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