As a whole, I found the terms and concepts discussed in this set of presentations to be incredibly interesting. Personally, I was intrigued by the psychology behind concepts like the "echo chamber", the Illusory Truth Effect, and confirmation bias. Naturally, the way we communicate in society is dictated by our psychology, but that can have a troubling effect when examined at the sociological level. Echo chambers, confirmation bias, and the Illusory Truth Effect have become especially relevant in today's heated political landscape.
Whether intentional or not, all of these concepts influence peoples' opinions. In some cases, human psychology is manipulated to maintain one's beliefs and actions. For example, social media companies, like Facebook, often use algorithms that generate echo chambers as a means of increasing user engagement. While the term "echo chamber" is often used in political contexts, the same basic principle applies to other topics, as well. In today's tech-heavy environment, ads are often tailored to appeal to an individual's interests. This helps to solidify consumers' opinions regarding the appeal or quality of certain goods and services.
The psychology of the echo chamber is heavily related to confirmation bias. Though the exact reason for confirmation bias is unknown, scientists believe it may be an evolutionary tactic to make cognitive processing more efficient. Thus, humans will naturally seek out information that supports the beliefs they already hold. Think about it...you probably get frustrated, upset, and stressed if you start seeing loads of posts or information that contradicts your own beliefs -- I certainly do. Therefore, it only makes sense that companies seeking to retain their consumer base use confirmation bias to keep people happy, even if the cost is a more polarized society.
Finally, both echo chambers and confirmation bias can result in the phenomenon known as the Illusory Truth Effect. Simply put, the Illusory Truth Effect explains that people will start to believe information after repeated exposure, whether or not it is true. In the context of current events, the Illusory Truth Effect is particularly troubling in its implications for the spread of misinformation and fake news, even when such information seems illogical. There are many real-world examples in which the Illusory Truth Effect is cause for concern. Obviously, tactics like political propaganda are made more effective by this effect. Another realm where the effects of this phenomenon are felt is in the criminal justice system. As explained here by Dr. Saul Kassin, some people will falsely confess to a crime they did not commit after being subjected to intense interrogation while in a vulnerable state of mind. As a result, the person comes to believe that they are guilty, despite prior convictions to the contrary. Ultimately, I find the psychology of human belief to be fascinating, but I think the consequences of its exploitation can be devastating to society.
