The Psychology of Misinformation
King Charles III is Dracula's distant cousin. Governments are hiding information about UFOs. COVID-19 came from outer space. These sound like absurd statements, but some are true, and others are misinformation. But what exactly is misinformation? Who believes and spreads things that aren't true, and why? What solutions do we have available, and how well do they work? This book answers all these questions and more. Tackling the science of misinformation from its evolutionary origins to its role in the internet era, this book translates rigorous research on misleading information into a comprehensive and jargon-free explanation. Whether you are a student, researcher, policymaker, or changemaker, you will discover an easy-to-read analysis on human belief in today's world and expert advice on how to prevent deception.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Jon Roozenbeek is an award-winning researcher from the University of Cambridge, whose work straddles psychology, area studies, and computer science. He studies the psychology of misinformation and group identity in times of conflict, and authored Propaganda and Ideology in the Russian-Ukrainian War (2024).
Sander van der Linden is a Professor of Social Psychology in Society and Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab at the University of Cambridge. He is ranked among the top 1% of highly cited social scientists worldwide.