#11: EOTO Reaction

 

One presentation I found interesting was learning about the illusory truth effect. It is the human tendency to believe a claim or a piece of information to be true after being exposed to it multiple times. Essentially, the more we hear something, the more likely we are to believe it.

After doing my own research, I learned that there are multiple psychological studies that prove this effect. The first was conducted in 1977 and demonstrates how the participants' confidence in the validity of a statement rose as it was repeated. Similarly, the illusory truth effect creates myths that, after a certain amount of exposure, people believe are true. An example of this is the belief that we only use ten percent of our brains. This illustrates how the illusory truth effect can be impactful on society’s perception of information.

On one hand, the illusory truth effect can have positive outcomes. For example, the spread of factual information can cause people to retain information and be more educated on a certain subject. Additionally, this effect is utilized in marketing and branding to help build recognition and gain attention from potential customers.

Although there are pros, when this strategy is used by bad actors it can have harmful influences. This is seen today in social media, where misinformation is constantly spread to a wide audience. Often, these slogans or taglines are used to sway public opinion toward a certain political belief or bias. In addition, this propaganda can encourage people to make decisions on bad information, such as voting for a candidate. 

Another factor I found that surprised me was how to correct this misinformation. Psychology Today describes it as a paradox because to correct the lie involves repeating the falsehood. As a result, this statement may be solidified and validated even further for some.

To avoid falling for the illusory truth effect, people need to take precautions. Just like protecting your house, I believe that people need to guard their values from these bad actors trying to sway your opinions. Therefore, it is crucial that people fact-check their information and be aware of how the illusory truth effect can impact them.