In a world where information is always at our fingertips, it can be baffling that misinformation continues to run rampant. With scientific facts so easily accessible, it should be simple to set the record straight.
However, scientific research has confirmed: Facts alone aren’t always enough to correct misinformation and change people's minds.
Unfortunately, the way our brains store information isn’t always conducive to correction. On top of that, we aren’t as rational as we like to think we are, which tangles our understanding of the world in a sticky web of personal identity and emotion.
Our brains have a remarkable ability to retain information, albeit with some quirks.
Rather than replacing incorrect information, our minds tend to create new memories alongside existing ones, says Lisa Fazio, a psychology professor at Vanderbilt University.
Consequently, when we try to recall a corrected piece of information, we may end up with competing ideas ...
