Political rumors and misinformation pollute the political landscape. This is not a recent phenomenon; before the currently rampant and unfounded rumors about a stolen election and vote-rigging, there were other rumors that continued to spread even after they were thoroughly debunked, including doubts about 9/11 (an “inside job”) and the furor over President Obama’s birthplace and birth certificate. If misinformation crowds out the truth, how can Americans communicate with one another about important issues? In this book, Adam Berinsky examines why political rumors exist and persist despite their unsubstantiated and refuted claims, who is most likely to believe them, and how to combat them.
Drawing on original survey and experimental data, Berinsky shows that a tendency toward conspiratorial thinking and vehement partisan attachment fuel belief in rumors. Yet the reach of rumors is wide, and Berinsky argues that in fighting misinformation, it is as important to target the undecided and the uncertain as it is the true believers. We’re all vulnerable to misinformation, and public skepticism about the veracity of political facts is damaging to democracy. Moreover, in a world where most people simply don’t pay attention to politics, political leaders are often guilty of disseminating false information—and failing to correct it when it is proven wrong. Berinsky suggests that we should focus on the messenger as much as the message of rumors. Just as important as how misinformation is debunked is who does the debunking.
Awards and Recognition
- A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year
Adam J. Berinsky is the Mitsui Professor of Political Science at MIT and the founding director of the MIT Political Experiments Research Lab. A specialist in the fields of political behavior and public opinion, he is the author of Silent Voices: Public Opinion and Political Participation in America (Princeton) and In Time of War: Understanding American Public Opinion from World War II to Iraq.
"A thought-provoking journey through the intricate world of political rumors. . . . Invaluable for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of both misinformation and the complex scholarly conversation surrounding the topic."—Choice
“Misinformation is perhaps the major societal challenge of our time. This book reflects more than a decade of thought and study by one of the world’s preeminent experts on the topic. It offers a profound perspective on why misperceptions endure and what steps should (and should not) be used to address the problem. It is requisite reading for anyone who hopes to understand and address what has become a defining challenge of the twenty-first century.”—James N. Druckman, Northwestern University
“This is a comprehensive exploration of political rumors: who believes them, how they spread, and the toolkit of corrective strategies that scholars and practitioners must consider if they want to confront this problem. Importantly, Berinsky directs our attention to the people who are not yet ‘true believers’ (because they are uncertain about rumors) and the production side of misinformation. The end result is a book that is a conceptual and empirical tour de force.”—Jennifer Jerit, Dartmouth College
“Berinsky’s Political Rumors brings together a decade's worth of research to offer the most comprehensive treatment to date of the prevalence of beliefs in false and unsupported claims, the reasons that people are vulnerable to them, and the challenges we face in trying to counter them. A crucially important examination of an issue of vital public concern.”—Brendan Nyhan, Dartmouth College
“Adam Berinsky has been studying misinformation and rumors longer than anyone, well before the contemporary panic about these topics. This book represents more than a decade of painstaking work, but it could not come at a better time. Anyone who cares about the pervasiveness of lies in contemporary political discourse will learn valuable lessons from Berinsky’s careful research.”—Nathaniel Persily, Stanford Law School
“This fascinating book goes deep into the social science behind rumors in the political realm. Through a series of case studies highlighting potent stories that persist despite debunking efforts, Berinsky deftly ensures that the reader comes away with a better understanding of how rumors can spread rapidly and influence public opinion. This fresh perspective on the intersection of politics and human communication will appeal to anyone interested in how misleading ideas spread in our interconnected world, and the profound consequences this can have.”—Renee DiResta, Stanford University
