Psychological Science: A Key To Understanding And Combating Health Misinformation

"There is widespread concern that misinformation poses dangerous risks to health, well-being, and civic life. Despite a growing body of research on the topic, significant questions remain about (a) psychological factors that render people susceptible to misinformation, (b) the extent to which it affects real-world behavior, (c) how it spreads online and offline, and (d) intervention strategies that counter and correct it effectively. This report reviews the best available psychological science research to reach a consensus on each of these crucial questions, particularly as they pertain to health-related misinformation. In addition, the report offers eight specific recommendations for scientists, policymakers, and health professionals who seek to recognize and respond to misinformation in health care and beyond."

MAIN POINTS:

• RECOMMENDATION 1 Avoid repeating misinformation without including a correction.
• RECOMMENDATION 2 Collaborate with social media companies to understand and reduce the spread of harmful misinformation.
• RECOMMENDATION 3 Use misinformation correction strategies with tools already proven to promote healthy behaviors
• RECOMMENDATION 4 Leverage trusted sources to counter misinformation and provide accurate health information.
• RECOMMENDATION 5 Debunk misinformation often and repeatedly using evidence-based methods.
• RECOMMENDATION 6 Prebunk misinformation to inoculate susceptible audiences by building skills and resilience from an early age.
• RECOMMENDATION 7 Demand data access and transparency from social media companies for scientific research on misinformation
• RECOMMENDATION 8 Fund basic and translational research into the psychology of health misinformation, including effective ways to counter it. 

Click on the link below for the full 44-page American Psychological Association Consensus Statement:

Using Psychological Science to Understand and Fight Health Misinformation