The Psychology of Fake News : Accepting, Sharing, and Correcting Misinformation

This volume examines the phenomenon of fake news by bringing together leading experts from different fields within psychology and related areas, and explores what has become a prominent feature of public discourse since the first Brexit referendum and the 2016 US election campaign. Dealing with misinformation is important in many areas of daily life, including politics, the marketplace, health communication, journalism, education, and science. In a general climate where facts and misinformation blur, and are intentionally blurred, this book asks what determines whether people accept and share (mis)information, and what can be done to counter misinformation? All three of these aspects need to be understood in the context of online social networks, which have fundamentally changed the way information is produced, consumed, and transmitted. The contributions within this volume summarize the most up-to-date empirical findings, theories, and applications and discuss cutting-edge ideas and future directions of interventions to counter fake news. Also providing guidance on how to handle misinformation in an age of “alternative facts”, this is a fascinating and vital reading for students and academics in psychology, communication, and political science and for professionals including policy makers and journalists. This Volume Examines The Phenomenon Of Fake News By Bringing Together Leading Experts From Different Fields Within Psychology And Related Areas, And Explores What Has Become A Prominent Feature Of Public Discourse Since The First Brexit Referendum And The 2016 Us Election Campaign. Dealing With Misinformation Is Important In Many Areas Of Daily Life, From Politics And The Marketplace To Health Communication, Journalism, Education, And Science. At A Time When Facts And Misinformation Blur, And Are Intentionally Blurred, This Book Asks What Determines Whether People Accept And Share (mis)information, And What Can Be Done To Counter Misinformation? Experts From Psychology And Related Behavioural Sciences Summarize Key Empirical Findings, Theories, And Applications, And Discuss Cutting‐edge Ideas. They Shed Light On What Contributes To The Acceptance And The Sharing Of Fake News, And Emphasize The Critical Role Of Online Social Networks In Recent Years. Their Insights Provide Guidance On How To Handle Misinformation In An Age Of Alternative Facts, Making This Book A Fascinating And Vital Reading For Students, Academics, And Practitioners In Psychology, Education, Communication, Journalism, Public Health, Policy Making, And Political Science. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Contents List of contributors Acknowledgements 1 What is new and true about fake news? Part I The journey and aftermath of (false) information in networks 2 How bad is the fake news problem? The role of baseline information in public perceptions 3 Truth and the dynamics of news diffusion on Twitter 4 Retracted articles – the scientific version of fake news Part II Cognitive processes in accepting, sharing, and correcting misinformation 5 When (fake) news feels true: Intuitions of truth and the acceptance and correction of misinformation 6 Truthiness: How non-probative photos shape belief 7 Can that be true or is it just fake news? New perspectives on the negativity bias in judgments of truth 8 False beliefs: Byproducts of an adaptive knowledge base? 9 Psychological inoculation against fake news Part III Motivational processes in accepting, sharing, and correcting misinformation 10 Your fake news, our facts: Identity-based motivation shapes what we believe, share, and accept 11 Conspiracy beliefs: Knowledge, ego defense, and social integration in the processing of fake news 12 Fake news attributions as a source of nonspecific structure Index This book examines the phenomenon of fake news by bringing together leading experts from different fields within psychology and related areas. In an age where "alternative facts" have become a prominent feature of public discourse, this is fascinating reading for students, academics, and professionals including policy makers and journalists.