Why debunked political rumors persist and how to combat them
Political rumors and misinformation pollute the political
landscape. This is not a recent phenomenon; before the currently
rampant and unfounded rumors about a stolen election and
vote-rigging, there were other rumors that continued to spread even
after they were thoroughly debunked, including doubts about 9/11
(an “inside job”) and the furor over President Obama’s
birthplace and birth certificate. If misinformation crowds out the
truth, how can Americans communicate with one another about
important issues? In this book, Adam Berinsky examines why
political rumors exist and persist despite their unsubstantiated
and refuted claims, who is most likely to believe them, and how to
combat them. Drawing on original survey and experimental data,
Berinsky shows that a tendency toward conspiratorial thinking and
vehement partisan attachment fuel belief in rumors. Yet the reach
of rumors is wide, and Berinsky argues that in fighting
misinformation, it is as important to target the undecided and the
uncertain as it is the true believers. We’re all vulnerable to
misinformation, and public skepticism about the veracity of
political facts is damaging to democracy. Moreover, in a world
where most people simply don’t pay attention to politics,
political leaders are often guilty of disseminating false
information—and failing to correct it when it is proven wrong.
Berinsky suggests that we should focus on the messenger as much as
the message of rumors. Just as important as how misinformation is
debunked is who does the debunking.
General
| Imprint: |
Princeton University Press
|
| Country of origin: |
United States |
| Series: |
Princeton Studies in Political Behavior |
| Release date: |
August 2023 |
| Firstpublished: |
2023 |
| Authors: |
Adam J. Berinsky
|
| Dimensions: |
235 x 155mm (L x W) |
| Format: |
Hardcover
|
| Pages: |
240 |
| ISBN-13: |
978-0-691-15838-9 |
| Categories: |
Books
|
| LSN: |
0-691-15838-X |
| Barcode: |
9780691158389 |
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