Experiencing misinformation: The effect of pre-exposure warnings and debunking on psychic beliefs

Misinformation can have a detrimental impact on our beliefs, and it is therefore necessary to understand the cognitive mechanism by which false information is integrated or can be changed. In two experiments, we worked with fake psychic demonstrations, because observers easily adopt the experience as reflecting a true psychic event. We manipulated the availability of alternative explanations by providing a general warning that the performer is a magician with no psychic abilities (Experiment 1) or disclosing afterwards how the fake demonstration had been staged (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, witnessing the psychic demonstration significantly increased participants' psychic beliefs, even though they had been warned. However, providing the alternative explanation about the deceptive method mitigated this effect. In Experiment 2, the realisation of deception significantly reduced participants' psychic beliefs directly after the performance and remained reduced 1 week later.

Automated summary

This study examines the cognitive mechanism behind misinformation and its impact on belief. Using fake psychic demonstrations, the researchers found that even when warned, participants still increased their psychic beliefs after witnessing the performance. However, providing alternative explanations about the deceptive methods mitigated this effect. The realization of deception significantly reduced participants' psychic beliefs immediately after the performance and remained reduced even one week later.