Why do we believe fake news? Blame it on childhood
THOUGHT processes and belief systems that people develop early in life to help protect against the anxiety and stress of an uncertain world may help explain why some fall victim to fake news, psychologists believe.
But psychology can offer a few evidence-based strategies for defending against the pull of fake news, such as keeping an open mind and critical thinking, the American Psychological Association has heard.
The key to people’s accepting fake news as true, despite evidence to the contrary, is a phenomenon known as confirmation bias, or the tendency for people to seek and accept information that confirms their existing beliefs while rejecting or ignoring that which contradicts those beliefs.
Many of these beliefs and biases are formed early in life when children begin to distinguish between fantasy and reality, according to developmental psychologist Eve Whitmore.
Some of these beliefs can be based in fantasy, and that can lead to nonsensical thinking.
“From the beginning, parents reinforce to their children the skill of pretending in order to cope with the realities inherent in culture and society,” she said.
“Children’s learning about makebelieve and mastery of it becomes the basis for more complex forms of self-deception and illusion into adulthood.”
She said parents commonly encourage young children to engage in pretend play, where they often practise real-life scenarios like playing house, which help to reinforce cultural norms and beliefs and aid in assimilation as they age.
But this means that children also learn that sometimes it is OK to make believe things are true – even though they know they are not, Dr Whitmore added.
In adolescence, people develop critical thinking skills and some begin to question what they were taught as children, such as religious beliefs or even the belief that authority figures such as parents or government leaders are always right.
But going against one’s parents’ beliefs can cause friction within the family, and, despite evidence to the contrary, some are willing to rationalise those false beliefs in order