Participants first spent at least two minutes writing about one of two controversial political topics: immigration reform or the death penalty, and what about that topic elicits either anxiety or fear for themselves. For the control condition, participants had to write about something that elicits relaxation. Afterwards, the participants reported how emotional they were feeling for a variety of emotions.  

Measuring Emotional Induction in the Anxiety and Anger on Political Misinformation Study

After participants completed the writing section and had reported their emotional state, they had to read a fabricated news article about the topic they were assigned to write about initially. Participants were given a news article that 

- was considered "misinformation only", meaning it contained four untrue claims that remained uncorrected 
- the same four false claims that were eventually corrected with information that explained how each of the four claims were untrue. 

After reading the article, participants then had to report their perceived truthfulness of the claims.

Procedure of Anxiety and Anger on Political Misinformation Study

In regards to uncorrected misinformation, participants react differently depending on their emotional state. Anger was found to transcend any influence of partisanship and resulted in participants having a higher susceptibility of believing misinformation that aligned with their political party. Anxiety actually weakens the influence of partisanship and instead increases the likelihood of participants believing a false claim from the opposing political party.

Results of Anxiety and Anger on Political Misinformation Study

The study conducted by Weeks determined to see if emotions such as anger and anxiety can impact how an individual assesses political mis(information) and how this connects to partisan bias involved in the belief of political misinformation.

Saint Louis University

Emotions can play a large factor in the formation of political identity, as well as influence their belief in political misinformation. Anxiety and anger can result in differences in how an individual approaches political misinformation. Having anxiety can influence a person to further seek out political information learning, whereas being angry can influence a person to be more close-minded with the political information they are presented with.

Anxiety and Anger on Partisan Bias in Accepting Misinformation

Weeks, B. E. (2015). Emotions, Partisanship, and Misperceptions: How Anger and Anxiety Moderate the Effect of Partisan Bias on Susceptibility to Political Misinformation. Journal of Communication, 65(4), 699–719. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12164

Emotions, Partisanship, and Misperceptions: How Anger and Anxiety Moderate the Effect of Partisan Bias on Susceptibility to Political Misinformation

Anxiety can flourish in uncertain political situations. To get rid of this anxiety, individuals may more carefully evaluate political information, even if that information goes against their pre-existing beliefs.

Learn Before

Related

Learn After