Why Do Our Brains Love Fake News?

Summary

This script delves into the phenomenon of fake news and how cognitive biases, particularly confirmation bias, predispose us to believe information that aligns with our pre-existing beliefs. It highlights the 2016 presidential election's fake news impact and discusses the neuroscience behind why our brains are wired to favor emotionally driven conclusions over factual ones. The script offers a three-step plan to combat this bias: recognizing its existence, considering the depth of our understanding, and researching opposing viewpoints.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fake news can be more compelling than real news, as it often aligns with our pre-existing beliefs.
• 🧠 Cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, predispose us to accept information that confirms our existing views.
• 🤔 Confirmation bias leads us to seek out and favor information that aligns with our beliefs, while dismissing contradictory evidence.
• 🧬 Our brains are wired to protect our social identity, which can override the pursuit of objective truth.
• 📊 During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, fake news articles on Facebook were more widely shared than real news.
• 🧭 People often believe fake news articles to be accurate, highlighting the difficulty in discerning truth from falsehood.
• 🧠 Brain scans have shown that when confronted with information that aligns with their beliefs, people rely more on emotional processing than rational reasoning.
• 💡 The neurotransmitter dopamine is released when our beliefs are confirmed, reinforcing our biases.
• 🔍 To combat confirmation bias, it's important to recognize its existence, consider the depth of our understanding, and research opposing viewpoints.
• 🌟 A three-step plan is suggested to mitigate the effects of confirmation bias: recognize, consider, and research.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?

The main topic discussed in the video script is the prevalence of fake news and the role of cognitive biases, particularly confirmation bias, in making people susceptible to believing and sharing false information.

According to the script, what was the result of the Buzzfeed analysis on fake news articles on Facebook?

The Buzzfeed analysis showed that the top 20 fake news articles on Facebook generated more clicks than the top 20 real articles from every major publication combined.

What percentage of time do people believe fake news articles are somewhat or very accurate according to a recent poll mentioned in the script?

People believe fake news articles are somewhat or very accurate 75% of the time, as per a recent poll mentioned in the script.

What is cognitive bias as defined in the script?

Cognitive bias is defined as a limitation in our thinking that can cause flaws in our judgment, often leading us to make faulty conclusions.

How does the script explain the role of cognitive bias in the context of fake news?

The script explains that cognitive bias, particularly confirmation bias, makes us seek out information that aligns with our beliefs and ignore or minimize facts that contradict our views, making us more susceptible to believing and sharing fake news.

What is confirmation bias and how does it relate to the acceptance of fake news?

Confirmation bias is the tendency to search for, interpret, favor, and recall information in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. It relates to the acceptance of fake news because it leads people to believe and share stories that align with their existing views, regardless of their veracity.

What is the 'illusion of explanatory depth' mentioned in the script?

The 'illusion of explanatory depth' is a cognitive bias where people believe they understand concepts better than they actually do, which can lead to overconfidence in their beliefs and resistance to alternative viewpoints.

How does the script suggest we can combat confirmation bias?

The script suggests a three-step plan to combat confirmation bias: 1) Recognize that you have the bias, 2) Consider that you may not understand as much as you think you do, and 3) Research and break down opposing viewpoints.

What is the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the context of confirmation bias as discussed in the script?

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain responsible for reason. The script mentions that during the study of political bias, this area was inactive when participants evaluated candidates they liked, indicating that reason was not being used, and instead, the brain's emotional processing areas were active.

What is the term used in the script to describe the protection of our social standing and relationships through bias in beliefs?

The term used in the script to describe the protection of our social standing and relationships through bias in beliefs is 'identity-protective cognition'.

How does the script use the example of Tomi Lahren to illustrate the consequences of going against one's social group's beliefs?

The script uses the example of Tomi Lahren, a conservative political commentator, who faced backlash from her conservative audience when she expressed a pro-choice view on abortion, illustrating the social consequences of challenging the beliefs of one's social group.