Psychology
Cognitive Biases in Political Decision-Making Among Voters
Quick fact
In the 2016 U.S. election, voters who strongly disliked a candidate were more likely to believe negative rumors about them, even when the rumors were proven false—a clear example of motivated reasoning and confirmation bias at work.
Why this is interesting
You’ve probably made up your mind about a political candidate long before you hear all the facts. Why do even well-informed voters seem to ignore information that contradicts their beliefs?