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Calvillo DP, León A, Rutchick AM. Personality and misinformation. Curr Opin Psychol 2024; 55:101752. [PMID: 38065004 PMCID: PMC11193381 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2023.101752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Misinformation poses a significant concern, promoting false beliefs and eroding trust in media. People differ in their susceptibility to believe and to share misinformation. In this article, we reviewed recent research on relationships between personality traits and belief in and sharing of misinformation. Findings show that more extroverted and less conscientious and agreeable people tend to be more susceptible to believing in and sharing misinformation. Additionally, the Dark Triad personality traits of narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism tend to be positively associated with sharing of misinformation, and narcissism and psychopathy are associated with greater belief in misinformation. Understanding these individual differences can inform interventions to reduce the effects of misinformation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex León
- Psychology Department, California State University San Marcos, USA
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Escolà‐Gascón Á, Houran J, Dagnall N, Drinkwater K, Denovan A. Follow-up on the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) remote viewing experiments ☆. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3026. [PMID: 37133806 PMCID: PMC10275521 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Since 1972, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) commissioned several research programs on remote viewing (RV) that were progressively declassified from 1995 to 2003. The main objectives of this research were to statistically replicate the original findings and address the question: What are the underlying cognitive mechanisms involved in RV? The research focused on emotional intelligence (EI) theory and intuitive information processing as possible hypothetical mechanisms. METHODS We used a quasi-experimental design with new statistical control techniques based on structural equation modeling, analysis of invariance, and forced-choice experiments to accurately objectify results. We measured emotional intelligence with the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test. A total of 347 participants who were nonbelievers in psychic experiences completed an RV experiment using targets based on location coordinates. A total of 287 participants reported beliefs in psychic experiences and completed another RV experiment using targets based on images of places. Moreover, we divided the total sample into further subsamples for the purpose of replicating the findings and also used different thresholds on standard deviations to test for variation in effect sizes. The hit rates on the psi-RV task were contrasted with the estimated chance. RESULTS The results of our first group analysis were nonsignificant, but the analysis applied to the second group produced significant RV-related effects corresponding to the positive influence of EI (i.e., hits in the RV experiments were 19.5% predicted from EI) with small to moderate effect sizes (between 0. 457 and 0.853). CONCLUSIONS These findings have profound implications for a new hypothesis of anomalous cognitions relative to RV protocols. Emotions perceived during RV sessions may play an important role in the production of anomalous cognitions. We propose the Production-Identification-Comprehension (PIC) emotional model as a function of behavior that could enhance VR test success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álex Escolà‐Gascón
- Area of Applied Mathematics and StatisticsRamon Llull University (Blanquerna Foundation)BarcelonaSpain
| | - James Houran
- Laboratory for Statistics and ComputationISLA—Instituto Politécnico de Gestão e TecnologiaVila Nova de GaiaPortugal
- Integrated Knowledge SystemsDallasTexasUSA
| | - Neil Dagnall
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social CareManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
| | - Kenneth Drinkwater
- Psychology Department, Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social CareManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
| | - Andrew Denovan
- Department of People and PerformanceFaculty of Business and LawManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchesterUK
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Escolà-Gascón Á, Dagnall N, Denovan A, Drinkwater K, Diez-Bosch M. Who falls for fake news? Psychological and clinical profiling evidence of fake news consumers. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023; 200:111893. [PMID: 36089997 PMCID: PMC9450498 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2022.111893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Awareness of the potential psychological significance of false news increased during the coronavirus pandemic, however, its impact on psychopathology and individual differences remains unclear. Acknowledging this, the authors investigated the psychological and psychopathological profiles that characterize fake news consumption. A total of 1452 volunteers from the general population with no previous psychiatric history participated. They responded to clinical psychopathology assessment tests. Respondents solved a fake news screening test, which allowed them to be allocated to a quasi-experimental condition: group 1 (non-fake news consumers) or group 2 (fake news consumers). Mean comparison, Bayesian inference, and multiple regression analyses were applied. Participants with a schizotypal, paranoid, and histrionic personality were ineffective at detecting fake news. They were also more vulnerable to suffer its negative effects. Specifically, they displayed higher levels of anxiety and committed more cognitive biases based on suggestibility and the Barnum Effect. No significant effects on psychotic symptomatology or affective mood states were observed. Corresponding to these outcomes, two clinical and therapeutic recommendations related to the reduction of the Barnum Effect and the reinterpretation of digital media sensationalism were made. The impact of fake news and possible ways of prevention are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álex Escolà-Gascón
- Blanquerna Faculty of Communication and International Relations, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neil Dagnall
- Psychology Department Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Denovan
- University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, United Kingdom
| | - Kenneth Drinkwater
- Psychology Department Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Miriam Diez-Bosch
- Blanquerna Faculty of Communication and International Relations, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
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Dagnall N, Denovan A, Drinkwater KG, Escolà-Gascón Á. Paranormal belief and well-being: The moderating roles of transliminality and psychopathology-related facets. Front Psychol 2022; 13:915860. [PMID: 36046418 PMCID: PMC9421129 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.915860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of prior research suggests that belief in the paranormal is more likely to be associated with negative psychological functioning, when presented alongside cognitive-perceptual factors that askew thinking and insight. The current study examined this notion using a sample of 3,084 participants (1,382 males, 1,693 females, nine non-binary). Respondents completed self-report measures assessing Paranormal Belief, Transliminality, psychopathology-related characteristics (Schizotypy and Manic-Depressive Experience), and well-being (Perceived Stress and Somatic Complaints). Responses were analysed via correlations and moderation. Paranormal Belief correlated positively with Transliminality, psychopathology-related measures, Perceived Stress, and Somatic Complaints. Moderation analyses revealed that Transliminality and psychopathology-related variables (i.e., the Unusual Experiences and Cognitive Disorganisation subscales of schizotypy, and Manic-Depressive Experience) interacted with Paranormal Belief in complex ways and were allied to higher scores on negative well-being outcomes. This indicated that within paranormal believers, Transliminality and specific psychopathology-related variables in combination predicted susceptibility to negative well-being outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Dagnall
- Department of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Neil Dagnall,
| | - Andrew Denovan
- Department of Psychology, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
| | | | - Álex Escolà-Gascón
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
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Escolà-Gascón Á. Impact of conspiracist ideation and psychotic-like experiences in patients with schizophrenia during the COVID-19 crisis. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 146:135-148. [PMID: 34979358 PMCID: PMC9749884 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Conspiratorial belief is a type of argument that accepts implausible explanations in situations of great uncertainty or mystery. Claiming that the coronavirus is an artificial fabrication of laboratories is an example of conspiracist belief. The aim of this research was to analyze the impact of conspiracist ideation and psychotic-like experiences in patients with schizophrenia, patients with other mental disorders, and participants with no psychiatric history with a 132-day follow-up during the COVID-19 crisis. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied and Bayesian inferences were carried out. The results conclude that conspiracist ideation and psychotic-like experiences increased significantly after 132 days of social-health restrictions in the general population. However, psychotic-like experiences did not increase in patients with schizophrenia. Conspiracist ideation has a quantitative degradation similar to the continuum model of psychosis; it is present both in patients with schizophrenia and in those participants with no clinical history. The psychopathological value of conspiracist ideation within the spectrum of psychosis is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álex Escolà-Gascón
- School of Communication and International Relations, Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain; School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain.
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Escolà-Gascón Á, Dagnall N, Gallifa J. The Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2): A Psychometric Alternative to Measure and Explain Supernatural Experiences. Front Psychol 2021; 12:692194. [PMID: 34335408 PMCID: PMC8322782 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.692194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents the English adaptation of the Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2), a questionnaire developed specifically for psychological assessment and prediction of anomalous phenomena. The sample consisted of 613 respondents from England (47.6% were women and 52.4% men). All of them were of legal age (mean = 34.5; standard deviation = 8.15). An exploratory factor analysis was applied, and three confirmatory factor models were adjusted. Omega coefficients and test-retest designs were used for reliability analysis. The MMSI-2 has a valid internal structure consisting of five macrofactors: Clinical Personality Tendencies (CPT), Anomalous Perceived Phenomena (APP), Incoherent Manipulations (IMA), Altered States of Consciousness (ASC), and Openness (OP). Omega coefficients for CPT and OP factors were low but acceptable. Furthermore, test-retest trials were excellent for all scales and factors. The psychological factors CPT, IMA, and ASC predicted 18.3% of the variance of anomalous experiences (APP). The authors concluded the English MMSI-2 was a valid and reliable test for the evaluation of anomalous phenomena but recommend that subsequent research reviews the predictive quality of the underlying model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álex Escolà-Gascón
- School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neil Dagnall
- Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Josep Gallifa
- School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
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Escolà-Gascón Á. New techniques to measure lie detection using COVID-19 fake news and the Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2). COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chbr.2020.100049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
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Escolà-Gascón Á, Marín FX, Rusiñol J, Gallifa J. Evidence of the psychological effects of pseudoscientific information about COVID-19 on rural and urban populations. Psychiatry Res 2021; 295:113628. [PMID: 33340799 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
This research aims to analyze the effects of pseudoscientific information (PI) about COVID-19 on the mental well-being of the general population. A total of 782 participants were classified according to the type of municipality in which they lived (rural municipalities and urban municipalities). The participants answered psychometric questionnaires that assessed psychological well-being, pseudoscientific beliefs and the ability to discriminate between scientific and pseudoscientific information about COVID-19. The results indicated the following: the greater the ability to discriminate between false information and true information, the greater the levels of psychological well-being perceived by the participant. The ability to discriminate predicts up to 32% of psychological well-being only for subjects living in rural municipalities. Residents in urban municipalities showed lower levels of well-being than residents in rural municipalities. It is concluded that new social resources are needed to help the general population of urban municipalities discriminate between pseudoscientific and scientific information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álex Escolà-Gascón
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences (FPCEE Blanquerna), Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Francesc-Xavier Marín
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences (FPCEE Blanquerna), Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Rusiñol
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences (FPCEE Blanquerna), Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Gallifa
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences (FPCEE Blanquerna), Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain
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Escolà-Gascón Á. Forced-choice experiment on Anomalous Information Reception and correlations with states of consciousness using the Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2). Explore (NY) 2020; 18:170-178. [PMID: 33288468 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2020.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT An Anomalous Information Reception (AIR) experiment was developed. OBJECTIVE To statistically examine the occurrence of AIR in multiple experimental tests and explore their predictive psychological mechanisms. DESIGN First, we investigated whether human beings could guess the positive or negative content from 30 randomly selected images that would be presented on a computer screen, one at a time. Ninety participants reported being mediums and another 90 claimed to be nonbelievers in the paranormal. The participants were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions: (1) positive-relaxing environments, (2) neutral environments, and (3) negative-stimulating environments. Second, the prediction of successes recorded in the AIR experiment was tested using five Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2) scales that measured the altered state of consciousness (ASC) and suggestibility. RESULTS The successes did not exceed the estimated chance. The only significant results revealed that mediums obtained a greater number of correct answers than the non-believing participants. Bayesian estimation also confirmed these results. In the same way, the altered states of consciousness and suggestibility negatively predicted 25.8% of successes in the AIR experiment. CONCLUSIONS Insufficient statistical evidence was obtained for AIR. The results raise doubts about previous theories on AIR. Further research is required. Nevertheless, mediums obtained more success answers than nonbelievers did. This means that the anomalous sheep-goat effect is also present in mediums and supports results obtained in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álex Escolà-Gascón
- Ramon Llull University, Blanquerna, School of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, FPCEE Blanquerna.
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Escolà-Gascón Á. Researching unexplained phenomena II: new evidences for anomalous experiences supported by the Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2). CURRENT RESEARCH IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crbeha.2020.100005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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Escolà-Gascón Á, Marín FX, Rusiñol J, Gallifa J. Pseudoscientific beliefs and psychopathological risks increase after COVID-19 social quarantine. Global Health 2020; 16:72. [PMID: 32731864 PMCID: PMC7391050 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-020-00603-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The health crisis caused by COVID-19 has led many countries to opt for social quarantine of the population. During this quarantine, communication systems have been characterized by disintermediation, the acceleration of digitization and an infodemic (excess and saturation of information). The following debate arises: Do the levels related to the psychotic phenotype and pseudoscientific beliefs related to the interpretation of information vary before and after social quarantine? OBJECTIVES This research aims to examine the psychological effects of social quarantine on the psychotic phenotype and pseudoscientific beliefs-experiences of the general nonclinical population. The following hypothesis was posed: social quarantine alters the levels of magical thinking, pseudoscientific beliefs and anomalous perceptions due to quarantine. METHODS A pre- and posttest analysis design was applied based on the difference in means, and complementary Bayesian estimation was performed. A total of 174 Spanish subjects responded to different questionnaires that evaluated psychopathological risks based on psychotic phenotypes, pseudoscientific beliefs and experiences before and after quarantine. RESULTS Significant differences were obtained for the variables positive psychotic symptoms, depressive symptoms, and certain perceptual alterations (e.g., cenesthetic perceptions), and a significant increase in pseudoscientific beliefs was also observed. The perceptual disturbances that increased the most after quarantine were those related to derealization and depersonalization. However, paranoid perceptions showed the highest increase, doubling the initial standard deviation. These high increases could be related to the delimitation of physical space during social quarantine and distrust towards information communicated by the government to the population. Is it possible that social alarmism generated by the excess of information and pseudoscientific information has increased paranoid perceptual alterations? CONCLUSIONS Measures taken after quarantine indicate that perceptual disturbances, subclinical psychotic symptoms and beliefs in the pseudoscience have increased. We discuss which elements of quarantine coincide with the social marginality theory and its clinical repercussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álex Escolà-Gascón
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences (FPCEE Blanquerna), Ramon Llull University, 34 Císter St., 08022, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Francesc-Xavier Marín
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences (FPCEE Blanquerna), Ramon Llull University, 34 Císter St., 08022, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Rusiñol
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences (FPCEE Blanquerna), Ramon Llull University, 34 Císter St., 08022, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Gallifa
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences (FPCEE Blanquerna), Ramon Llull University, 34 Císter St., 08022, Barcelona, Spain
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