The study found that for pro-conservative misinformation, higher levels of openness increase the vulnerability of low cognitive individuals to misinformation. Low cognitive individuals with greater openness were vulnerable to believing, sharing, & engaging misinformation. This may be because individuals with high openness are intellectually curious and motivated to engage in activities fulfilling such curiosity.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The sharing intention of those with high cognitive ability does not vary across levels of personality traits. Moderation effects of personality are more likely to explain differences in perceived accuracy and sharing intentions toward political misinformation for those with low cognitive ability.

Personality Traits and Vulnerability to Political Misinformation

Ahmed, S. & Tan, H. W. (2022). Personality and perspicacity: Role of personality traits and cognitive ability in political misinformation discernment and sharing behavior. Personality and Individual Differences, 196, 111747-. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2022.111747

Personality and perspicacity: Role of personality traits and cognitive ability in political misinformation discernment and sharing behavior

Openness and Vulnerability to Political Misinformation

For pro-liberal misinformation, higher agreeableness among low cognitive ability individuals is associated with lower belief in misinformation.

Agreeableness & Vulnerability to Political Misinformation

A low degree of neuroticism among individuals with high cognitive ability is associated with lower belief in pro-liberal misinformation. Low cognitive ability individuals with high neuroticism are also more likely to share misinformation. This relationship may be mediated by problematic internet use.

Neuroticism & Vulnerability to Political Misinformation

For pro-liberal misinformation, higher conscientiousness among low cognitive ability individuals is associated with lower belief in misinformation.

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