The Psychology of Political Groupthink: Cognitive Bias, Belief, and Infowar

Kamen works as a lifestyle management consultant who explores the art and science of happiness as a speaker, author, and positive psychology expert. Through her globally syndicated podcast, books, media appearances, and documentary film, Lisa has impacted millions of people around the world.

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The Psychology of Political Groupthink: Cognitive Bias, Belief, and Infowar with Stephan Lewandowsky PhD

The primary goal of most media sources is to make money by pushing a political agenda and influencing the psychology of those who ingest the content. In order to achieve their goals, people use data, misinformation, and deliberate disinformation as weapons, creating what is often called Infowar. This can lead to groupthink, which causes public fear, doubt, and cognitive bias. False stories are exaggerated to make more money from advertising, influence people’s beliefs, or disrupt democratic institutions, as was seen in the 2016 election cycle.

To discover how to build resiliency against disinformation and groupthink, Harvesting Happiness Podcast host Lisa Cypers Kamen speaks with cognitive scientist and CIRCE researcher Dr. Stephan Lewandowsky.

Stephan shares his research on how alternative facts gain acceptance, how technology and Infowars can undermine the democratic process, and tips on discerning fact from fiction when consuming media.

This episode is a special edition of the Good Citizens Election Season Survival Guide designed to help restore common sense and sanity in a crazy world…

Original Air Date Wednesday, October 16, 2024

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Meet Our Guest:

The Psychology of Political Groupthink: Cognitive Bias, Belief, and Infowar with Stephan Lewandowsky PhD

Professor Stephan Lewandowsky, PhD, is a cognitive scientist at the University of Bristol, UK. His research focuses on human memory, decision-making, and how misinformation affects public beliefs and behaviors. Stephan’s work primarily explores how false information spreads, why people believe in conspiracy theories, and how to debunk misinformation effectively.

Professor Lewandosdky has published hundreds of scholarly articles, chapters, and books and is often cited for his subject matter expertise. His research regularly appears in journals such as Nature Human Behaviour, Nature Communications, and Psychological Review.

Stephan Lewandowsky PhD — The Dangers of Political Groupthink:

An example of how technology influences democracy. {3:17}
How technology and social media can undermine the democratic process. {6:27}
The architecture of honesty and how alternative facts gain currency. {8:00}
Democracy crumbles when beliefs take precedence over evidence in the political arena. {14:32}
Tips for building resilience against being misinformed through Infowars. {19:43}

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“What we think and what we feel are often disconnected from fact." @LisaKamen on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “Democracy, to function, relies on a common knowledge base.” @STWorg on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “Belief is indispensable in politics.” @STWorg on @HHTalkRadio Share on X “A necessary requirement of being truthful is that you have a coherent story.” @STWorg on @HHTalkRadio Share on X

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