Sulik, J., Efferson, C., &amp; McKay, R. (2021). Collectively jumping to conclusions: social information amplifies the tendency to gather insufficient data. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/vpnxh 

Syracuse University

Collective delusions are false beliefs that have been spread within societies and amplified in social groups. Collective delusions can have catastrophic social consequences. An example of a harmful collective delusion within society is the belief that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by scientists seeking personal advantage, this can decrease people's intentions to minimize their carbon footprint. Another example is the false belief that pharmaceutical companies hide data about harmful side effects of vaccines which in turn reduces people's intentions to get vaccinated.

Collective Delusions as a Form of False Beliefs

Collectively Jumping to Conclusions: Social Information Amplifies the Tendency to Gather Insufficient Data

A common model (figure 1a) used to explain the factors that form collective delusions suggests that individual learning and social learning are two separate paths that can lead to collective delusions. A study done by Justin Sulik, Charles Efferson, and Ryan McKay suggests that there is a third pathway (as shown in figure 1b) that extends from social learning and connects to individual learning. This pathway showing the contribution of social learning to individual learning may explain why collective delusions are robust to disconfirming evidence or how they are maintained even when costly to the individuals holding those misbeliefs.

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