Motivation-based Approaches to Countering Mass-Mediated Misinformation

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Background

The psychological factors underlying the recent growth in mass-mediated disinformation are manifold and complex, and certain modern dynamics have amplified the problem aided by the decentralized and unregulated openness of the internet.

The primary objective of this Research Topic is to highlight theories in social and cognitive psychology useful in providing frameworks for examining, predicting, understanding, and countering the underlying motivations behind the spread and acceptance of mass-mediated misinformation and disinformation. By applying theory-driven practical approaches, more effective strategies may be developed for mitigating the problem and promoting a more informed society. Understanding the cognitive, affective, and motivation-based mechanisms at play requires collaborative associations among a range of social science researchers.
Thus, the goal of this collection is to:
- Combine theoretical frameworks useful in understanding the nature, development, and efficacy of misinformation.
- Examine how misinformation affects instrumental and psychological needs.
- Develop and test means for countering the motivations underlying the spread and acceptance of mass-mediated misinformation

Authors could submit articles on a wide range of topics related to the psychological processes underpinning the propagation of misinformation and the ways digital technology has amplified certain psychological vulnerabilities encouraging the rapid spread of misinformation. The collection would welcome papers exploring real-world applications for combating all forms of mass-mediated misinformation, along with methods and practical approaches to countering its efficacy. Topics could include, but are not limited to studies using and combining motivation-based social and cognitive psych theories such as:

• Terror management theory; psychological reactance theory; inoculation theory; vested interest theory; cognitive dissonance theory; regulatory fit theory; regulatory focus theory; social identity theory; social cognitive theory; social norms theory; social impact theory; cultivation theory; information cascade theory; and lay epistemic theory, among others.



The above might be combined with models such as the unimodel; heuristic systematic model, extended parallel process model, and others useful in understanding the underlying psychological pathways and mechanisms motivating the spread of misinformation. Such approaches could examine:

At the platform level, from a social psychology perspective:
• Ways to aid platform management in providing clear, prompt, and effective fact-checking tools.
• Decreasing susceptibility to misinformation through disconfirmation and debiasing.
• Countering echo chambers and filter bubbles by motivating deliberation and hypothesis testing.
• The formation of effective motivation-based strategies for mitigating the impact of misinformation.
• Ways to promote intuitive approaches to navigating the information landscape more effectively.

At the individual level:
• The development of media literacy, critical thinking, and evidence-seeking as tools for fostering more valid and sound belief formation.
• The promotion of open-mindedness and tolerance for ambiguity.
• The effects of positive messaging on security, identity, and belonging needs.
• Ways to foster a sense of community while reducing hostility and avoiding false narratives.
• Ways to emphasize positive outcomes through engagement with accurate information.
• Ways to avoid the negative consequences of consuming and spreading misinformation.



We will consider the following Article Types:
Original research

Systematic review

Brief Research Report

In addition, we will consider other manuscript types:

Hypothesis and Theory

Community case study

Registered Report

Keywords: Countering misinformation, confirmation bias, critical thinking, disinformation, mass-media, media literacy, motivation-based theory, social media

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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