Cognitive biases toward group acceptance are the precursor for post-truth

Evidence

I am not here suggesting that we embrace false equivalence, or that the truth probably lies somewhere between political ideologies. The halfway point between truth and error is still error. But I am suggesting that at some level all ideologies are an enemy of the process by which truth is discovered. Perhaps researchers are right that liberals have a greater “need for cognition” than conservatives, but that does not mean liberals should be smug or believe that their political instincts are a proxy for factual evidence. In the work of Festinger, Asch, and others, we can see the dangers of ideological conformity. The result is that we all have a built-in cognitive bias to agree with what others around us believe, even if the evidence before our eyes tells us otherwise. At some level we all value group acceptance, sometimes even over reality itself. But if we care about truth, we must fight against this. Why? Because the cognitive biases that I have described in this chapter are the perfect precursor for post-truth. — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 121

Categorization

• XREF: Pairs with my existing notes on moral panics and ideology-critique (Hall, Adorno) where group conformity underwrites belief formation. — connects to: Post-truth predates 2016 with roots in cognitive bias, philosophy, and media change — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 51; Echo chambers convert the social-corrective group effect into conformity pressure — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 120; Cognitive biases alone cannot explain post-truth without later media factors — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 95 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Cognitive biases alone cannot explain post-truth without later media factors #qualifies (0.75) — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 95
• Post-truth roots lie in ancient cognitive bias, academic relativism, and media change #complicates (0.72)