Three Psychological Insights from a Certified Public Psychologist to Stop Being Swayed by Misinformation

Have you ever been asked, "Is there any evidence for that?" and found yourself unable to answer? Perhaps you've believed a post you saw on social media, or even after realizing it was a lie, you couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.

Working in the medical field, I have spent my career as a certified public psychologist addressing the inner workings of the human mind. Today, inspired by an interesting analysis article I read recently, I would like to discuss "why people are drawn to misinformation" from the perspective of a psychology expert. It is not because you have a weak will. There is a natural mechanism in the human mind that leads to this.

Simply "conveying the facts" does not change the human heart

First, I want you to understand that conveying correct information and changing a person's thoughts or actions are two completely different things.

A report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, based on hundreds of studies, shows that while fact-checking can correct individual misconceptions, it is difficult to change a person's attitudes or behaviors. In other words, even if you carefully explain, "This is a lie," the anxiety the person felt or the desire they had to believe that information does not simply disappear.

Working in psychology, I truly realize this often. People do not process information with their heads alone. They receive and store information in conjunction with emotions such as anxiety, loneliness, and the desire to connect with others. That is why, if you just throw "facts" at them without touching on the emotional aspect, it rarely gets through. This is not because you are stubborn or uneducated; it is simply how the human mind is naturally built.

Rumors spread as "stories," not as "facts"

Let me share another interesting case. During the major floods that hit Spain in October 2024, a rumor spread that "many bodies were hidden in the underground parking lot of a shopping mall." The number, initially reported as 44, swelled to 258 and then 1,000 within a few days. Even after authorities denied it, saying "there are no bodies," the spread did not stop, and it is said that 13,000 messages—four times the usual amount—were exchanged in seven days.

The reason the rumors as a whole did not stop even after correcting each individual lie is, I believe, because this rumor was spreading not as mere "misinformation," but as a "story."

People have a psychological tendency to find a coherent story in disconnected events. Especially after major disasters or unsettling events, it becomes very difficult to endure a state of "not knowing." When a story is offered that says, "Actually, there is a hidden truth," it becomes easy to accept it as a place for the mind to settle, even if the evidence is thin. This is not a weakness, but a very natural function of the human mind to survive uncertain situations.

Local fact-checking organizations reportedly tried a method of not just correcting individual rumors, but also focusing on the logic supporting those rumors—such as "mistaking correlation for causation" or "including the conclusion in the premise beforehand"—and carefully pointing out these habits of thought. They went beyond just listing facts to delve into "why people want to believe that story." This shift in perspective feels very close to the approach of psychological support.

Not all misinformation is equally dangerous

The third thing I want to convey is that the "number of people who believe it" and the "actual harm caused" are not necessarily proportional.

In the 2016 Pizzagate incident in the United States, many people believed in the baseless conspiracy theory, but only one person actually took action with a weapon. Overseas researchers, in considering where to focus limited efforts, suggest a perspective to distinguish between "whether harm only occurs when this information is believed and leads to action" or "whether it already hurts someone's feelings or causes actual harm at the moment it is published."

I think this also applies to how we deal with our daily anxieties. If you try to be equally vigilant about every piece of information you see, your mind will quickly become exhausted. By just pausing for a moment to think, "How much will this actually affect my life or the lives of my loved ones?" you can significantly reduce the anxiety that wears you out unnecessarily.

Technology alone cannot protect the human heart

I feel that in Japan, the focus of countermeasures is still often placed on the "technology" of how precisely we can distinguish truth from falsehood. Public research funds are being invested in the development of technology to detect deepfakes and programs to automatically determine authenticity. Of course, these technologies themselves are important initiatives.

However, I feel that is not enough. "Why did that rumor spread?" "What were people feeling when they believed it?" "What kind of actual harm is being caused?" Unless we face these questions, the more precise the judgment technology becomes, the more that "power to decide the truth" itself could be conveniently exploited by authoritarian states or those with financial power. In fact, there are already indications that such movements have begun.

That is why I believe that, in addition to waiting for technological progress, it is equally valuable for each individual to understand how their own mind works.

Three mindsets you can start today

Finally, I would like to share three things you can practice in your daily life.

The first is to pause precisely when your emotions are strongly stirred. When your heart is troubled by anger or anxiety, it is a sign that the information has pierced your heart as a 'narrative.' Take a breath before sharing. That alone can prevent a great deal of misinformation from spreading.

The second is to question not just the 'facts,' but the 'narrative' as well. Whose anxieties or wishes is this information catering to? Developing the habit of thinking this way will reveal aspects that cannot be seen by merely checking the truth or falsehood of the information.

The third is to cultivate the ability to sit with 'not knowing.' I believe that the mental space to hold back and say 'I don't know yet,' rather than trying to paint everything in black and white, is a very reliable strength for living in these uncertain times.

Conclusion

To summarize what I wanted to convey today:

・Simply providing correct information does not immediately change people's thoughts or actions. ・Rumors spread not as a 'collection of facts,' but as a 'narrative.'
・The number of people who believe something is not necessarily proportional to the actual scale of harm. ・Knowing one's own emotional responses, in addition to technical skills, will be a strength for surviving in the future information society.
・Please remember that when your emotions are strongly stirred, it is a signal to pause.

In this age overflowing with information, I don't think there is anyone who has never had their heart swayed by misinformation. That is not a weakness; it is humanity itself. Please do not blame yourself too much, and I would be happy if you could gradually incorporate the perspectives I discussed today into your daily life.

Thank you very much for staying with me until the end. I hope today's article serves as a catalyst for you to think about your next steps starting tomorrow.

#PsychologyTalk #CertifiedPublicPsychologist #InformationLiteracy #FactCheck #MentalHealth