Cognitive dissonance: Difference between revisions

Being presented with facts — whether via the news, social media, or one-on-one conversations — that suggest their current beliefs are wrong causes people to feel threatened. This reaction is particularly strong when the beliefs in question are aligned with your political and personal identities. It can feel like an attack on you if one of your strongly held beliefs is challenged.

Confronting facts that don’t line up with your worldview may trigger a “backfire effect,”<ref>'''Exposure to opposing views on social media can increase political polarization'''. Christopher A. Bail Edited by Peter S. Bearman, Columbia University, New York, NY, and approved August 9, 2018. Accessed on 31st August 2022 via <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1804840115</nowiki></ref> which can end up strengthening your original position and beliefs, particularly with politically charged issues. Researchers have identified this phenomenon in a number of studies, including ones about opinions toward climate change mitigation policies and attitudes toward childhood vaccinations.