The Illusory Truth Effect: How Repetition Shapes Belief
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The illusory truth effect, also known as the illusion of truth effect, validity effect, or reiteration effect, refers to the tendency of individuals to believe false information to be correct after repeated exposure. This cognitive phenomenon was first identified in a 1977 study conducted at Villanova University and Temple University. When assessing the truth of information, people often rely on whether it aligns with their existing knowledge or feels familiar. Repetition of statements makes them easier to process compared to new, unrepeated statements, leading individuals to perceive the repeated information as more truthful. The illusory truth effect has been associated with hindsight bias, which distorts the recollection of confidence after receiving the truth. Power of Familiarity Over Rationality In a 2015 study, researchers discovered that familiarity can override rationality, causing individuals to paradoxically believe that a statement is correct even when they know it is wrong.…