Milts
26th January 2011, 17:17
See this link for a discussion on recent research that the presentation of facts reinforces incorrectly held beliefs in many people. (https://watchingthedeniers.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/when-facts-fail-study-notes-that-facts-can-reinforce-false-beliefs/) People presented with a false news report and then a correction often more firmly believe the false report than those who were not shown a correction.
The discussion then goes on to talk about this in light of global warming sceptics. For example, reports about global warming being false which are then corrected or retracted reinforce people's scepticism in global warming even after they are told of the retraction. There is also an interesting discussion on the presentation methods of the mainstream media and how this often distorts an otherwise clear issue. It also brings about what has been coined the "backfire effect":
“However, individuals who receive unwelcome information may not simply resist challenges to their views. Instead, they may come to support their original opinion even more strongly—what we call a “backfire effect.”
Much of this seems to hinge on the fact that people filter what they read/see through their own political views rather than viewing it objectively. I'm sure we're all guiltly of this and I for one find it fucking disheartening to see it happen to the extreme in otherwise intelligent people.
On a related note: Wikipedia's list of common misconceptions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_misconceptions), of which I was guilty of believing a few. See the link for full discussion + sources. Highlights:
Hair and fingernails do not continue to grow after a person dies. Rather, the skin dries and shrinks away from the bases of hairs and nails, giving the appearance of growth.
People do not use only ten percent of their brains.
Glass is not a high-viscosity liquid at room temperature.
Searing meat does not "seal in" moisture, and in fact may actually cause meat to lose moisture.
There is no evidence that Vikings wore horns on their helmets.
Evolution does not claim humans evolved from monkeys,[97] chimpanzees[98] or any other modern-day primates.
The discussion then goes on to talk about this in light of global warming sceptics. For example, reports about global warming being false which are then corrected or retracted reinforce people's scepticism in global warming even after they are told of the retraction. There is also an interesting discussion on the presentation methods of the mainstream media and how this often distorts an otherwise clear issue. It also brings about what has been coined the "backfire effect":
“However, individuals who receive unwelcome information may not simply resist challenges to their views. Instead, they may come to support their original opinion even more strongly—what we call a “backfire effect.”
Much of this seems to hinge on the fact that people filter what they read/see through their own political views rather than viewing it objectively. I'm sure we're all guiltly of this and I for one find it fucking disheartening to see it happen to the extreme in otherwise intelligent people.
On a related note: Wikipedia's list of common misconceptions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_misconceptions), of which I was guilty of believing a few. See the link for full discussion + sources. Highlights:
Hair and fingernails do not continue to grow after a person dies. Rather, the skin dries and shrinks away from the bases of hairs and nails, giving the appearance of growth.
People do not use only ten percent of their brains.
Glass is not a high-viscosity liquid at room temperature.
Searing meat does not "seal in" moisture, and in fact may actually cause meat to lose moisture.
There is no evidence that Vikings wore horns on their helmets.
Evolution does not claim humans evolved from monkeys,[97] chimpanzees[98] or any other modern-day primates.