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The Behavioral Inhibition System and Engagement With, and Influence By, COVID-19 and Election-Based Misinformation
Presley McGarry1, Neil Shortland1, Natalie Anastasio1
1University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|August 31, 2023
Summary
Individual differences in the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) influence engagement with online misinformation and subsequent radicalism. These BIS-related processes affect intentions for activism and radicalism, regardless of information accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Science
- Communication Studies
Background:
- Misinformation negatively impacts public discourse and safety, contributing to polarization and violence.
- Research on misinformation often focuses on its spread, with less attention to individual exposure and influence processes.
- Online misinformation exposure is linked to conflicting perceptions across social, economic, and political domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how individual differences in the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) affect intentions for violence after online misinformation exposure.
- To investigate the role of BIS in behavioral and cognitive engagement with misinformation.
- To explore the relationship between BIS, misinformation engagement, activism, and radicalism.
Main Methods:
- Utilized reinforcement sensitivity theory to analyze BIS effects.
- Employed an online panel sample (Amazon Mechanical Turk).
- Conducted a behavioral study involving exposure to and interaction with misinformation and correct information.
Main Results:
- Trait BIS scores influenced the extent of engagement with online misinformation.
- BIS scores and engagement with misinformation predicted intentions for activism and radicalism.
- These effects were observed for both misinformation and accurate information, suggesting a general influence process.
Conclusions:
- BIS-related processes are crucial in understanding online influence and engagement with narratives.
- Findings suggest that online influence may operate as a general process rather than being specific to misinformation.
- Further research is needed to differentiate general online influence from specific misinformation effects.
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