The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Topic started by: bigheadfred on January 29, 2017, 01:18:33 am

Title: Psychological 'Vaccine' Could Help Immunize Public Against 'Fake News' on Climate Change, Study Suggests
Post by: bigheadfred on January 29, 2017, 01:18:33 am

New research finds that misinformation on climate change can psychologically cancel out the influence of accurate statements. However, if legitimate facts are delivered with an "inoculation" -- a warning dose of misinformation -- some of the positive influence is preserved.

In medicine, vaccinating against a virus involves exposing a body to a weakened version of the threat, enough to build a tolerance.

Social psychologists believe that a similar logic can be applied to help "inoculate" the public against misinformation, including the damaging influence of 'fake news' websites propagating myths about climate change.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170122213557.htm

Title: Re: Psychological 'Vaccine' Could Help Immunize Public Against 'Fake News' on Climate Change, Study Suggests
Post by: montanajoe on January 29, 2017, 01:24:54 am

Unfortunately there is no vaccine against Stupid. Seems the folks screaming about fake news and those who fall for it, are on the wrong side of the Bell curve :shrug: