The Nature and Origins of Misperceptions: Understanding False and Unsupported Beliefs About Politics

D.J. Flynn; Brendan Nyhan; Jason Reifler

doi:10.1111/pops.12394

journal article Jan 26, 2017

The Nature and Origins of Misperceptions: Understanding False and Unsupported Beliefs About Politics

D.J. Flynn Brendan Nyhan

Jason Reifler

Political Psychology Vol. 38 No. S1 pp. 127-150 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1111/pops.12394

Abstract

Political misperceptions can distort public debate and undermine people's ability to form meaningful opinions. Why do people often hold these false or unsupported beliefs, and why is it sometimes so difficult to convince them otherwise? We argue that political misperceptions are typically rooted in directionally motivated reasoning, which limits the effectiveness of corrective information about controversial issues and political figures. We discuss factors known to affect the prevalence of directionally motivated reasoning and assess strategies for accurately measuring misperceptions in surveys. Finally, we address the normative implications of misperceptions for democracy and suggest important topics for future research.

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Details

Published: Jan 26, 2017
Vol/Issue: 38(S1)
Pages: 127-150
License: View

Authors

Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College

University of Exeter

Cite This Article

D.J. Flynn, Brendan Nyhan, Jason Reifler (2017). The Nature and Origins of Misperceptions: Understanding False and Unsupported Beliefs About Politics. Political Psychology, 38(S1), 127-150. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12394

The Nature and Origins of Misperceptions: Understanding False and Unsupported Beliefs About Politics

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