False Belief

A false belief is a belief that can be mapped to a false proposition.

• Context:
  • It can range from being a Substantiated False Belief to being an Unsubstantiated False Belief.
  • It can lead to False Predictions.
  • It can be communicated as a False Proposition.
  • …
• Example(s):
  • The Earth is flat.
  • All creatures with wings can fly.
  • a Fallacy, due to Unsound Reasoning.
  • a Misperception.
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • a True Belief.
  • a False Premise.
  • an Unsound Deductive Argument.
  • an Unsubstantiated Belief.
• See: Incorrect Reasoning.

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References

2010

• (Nyhan & Reifler, 2010) ⇒ Brendan Nyhan, and Jason Reifler. (2010). “When Corrections Fail: The persistence of political misperceptions." Political Behavior, 32(2).
  • ABSTRACT: An extensive literature addresses citizen ignorance, but very little research focuses on misperceptions. Can these false or unsubstantiated beliefs about politics be corrected? Previous studies have not tested the efficacy of corrections in a realistic format. We conducted four experiments in which subjects read mock news articles that included either a misleading claim from a politician, or a misleading claim and a correction. Results indicate that corrections frequently fail to reduce misperceptions among the targeted ideological group. We also document several instances of a “backfire effect” in which corrections actually increase misperceptions among the group in question.

2009

• (WordNet, 2009) ⇒ http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=false%20belief
  • S: (n) fallacy, false belief (a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning)

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