Cognitive and Emotional Correlates of Belief in Political Misinformation: Who Endorses Partisan Misbeliefs?

Across two studies, we investigated how much cognitive variables and emotional dynamics anticipated endorsement of politically partisan misbeliefs. In Study 1 (n = 298), those with lower levels of cognitive ability endorsed more political misbeliefs regardless of whether those beliefs aligned with their political preferences. However, emotional investment in political parties and outcomes predicted who endorsed misbeliefs in a partisan manner. In Study 2 (n = 251), asking participants to briefly consider political misinformation as true via social consensus led them to feel dissonance, particularly for incompatible beliefs. Allowing them then to endorse or reject those misbeliefs reduced that dissonance yet maintained feelings of self-validation, particularly as participants rejected beliefs hostile to their political vies. This effect was stronger for emotionally invested participants. These findings suggest that endorsement of divisive partisan misbeliefs is associated with affective partisanship, a feature of the political landscape that is on the rise.

Automated summary

The studies found that individuals with lower cognitive ability are more likely to endorse political misbeliefs, while emotional investment plays a more crucial role in predicting support for partisan misbeliefs. When asked to briefly consider political misinformation as true through social consensus, participants experienced cognitive dissonance, but being able to reject those misbeliefs reduced dissonance and maintained feelings of self-validation, especially when rejecting beliefs hostile to their political views.