TRUMP WON THE 2020 ELECTION

Trump won the 2020 election. Michelle Obama is a man. FEMA is insolvent because they gave all their funding to illegal immigrants. All of these declarations are easy to recognize as fallacious. Or are they? Could they be true? Misinformation is easy for most people to disregard unless it is directed at us by a sincerely deceived coworker, friend or loved one who feels obligated to convert you. Even though such beliefs come with consequences, from social rejection to increased feelings of anxiety, Rob Brotherton, a psychologist, and author of two books on fake news reminds us that it’s human and normal to believe misinformation. “It’s a defense mechanism: we’re primed to be suspicious and afraid of things that can’t be explained.” Many people are exquisitely susceptible to spine-tingling news that is manipulated to be emotionally charged, particu- larly if it threatens their status, or is frequently and forcefully repeated. Reports from our own in-group, even if that consists of friends we’ve never met but strongly identify with, are more eagerly accepted and shared, particularly if it “proves” what we fervently want to be true. Psychologist Jovan Byford is a lecturer at Open University in the United Kingdom. He teaches...