Psychological Inoculation against Misinformation: Current Evidence and Future Directions. Issue 1 (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Traberg, Cecilie S.; Roozenbeek, Jon; van der Linden, Sander
• Other Names: Druckman James N. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. Volume 700:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 136
• Page End: 151
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: inoculation theory -- misinformation -- prebunking -- persuasion -- fake news; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- United States -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 300
• DOI: 10.1177/00027162221087936
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-7162

Abstract

Much like a viral contagion, misinformation can spread rapidly from one individual to another. Inoculation theory offers a logical basis for developing a psychological "vaccine" against misinformation. We discuss the origins of inoculation theory, starting with its roots in the 1960s as a "vaccine for brainwash, " and detail the major theoretical and practical innovations that inoculation research has witnessed over the years. Specifically, we review a series of randomized lab and field studies that show that it is possible to preemptively "immunize" people against misinformation by preexposing them to severely weakened doses of the techniques that underlie its production along with ways on how to spot and refute them. We review evidence from interventions that we developed with governments and social media companies to help citizens around the world recognize and resist unwanted attempts to influence and mislead. We conclude with a discussion of important open questions about the effectiveness of inoculation interventions.