Denouncing biased material does not neutralize its persuasive effect

Evidence

We cannot be proud of these effects as educators. Our students do not appear to examine critically what they read; they just chugalug it down. Furthermore, the fact that Pastor Peters moved them even when his arguments were denounced by the Experimenter suggests one cannot present such material to uncritical thinkers, simply denounce it, and think it will do no harm. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 3259

Categorization

• SEED: Essay angle: why debunking and pre-bunking fail — exposure to framed hate content shifts attitudes even when an authority condemns it on the spot.
• XREF: Connects to vault claims about authoritarianism and Christian nationalism by showing scriptural framing directly enhances authoritarian persuasion. — connects to: News silos cannot protect audiences from post-truth because both exploit the same biases — Lee McIntyre, Post-Truth, 122; Relentless derogatory epithets defeat summary judgment in bias suits — Sahar F. Aziz, Sticks and Stones, the Words That Hurt:…, 280