What seems to be hurting Trump in the polls now are self-destructive comments that trouble even his most passionate supporters. Bottom line: Vilifying Trump voters — or, alternatively, parents who don’t want to have their children vaccinated — won’t convince them they’re wrong. This “confirmation bias” was outlined in a 1979 article by psychologist Charles Lord, cited by Graves. Graves noted that if people feel attacked, they resist the facts all the more. Trying to correct misperceptions can actually reinforce them, according to a 2006 paper by Brendan Nyhan and Jason Reifler, also cited by Graves.

Source: Washington Post August 04, 2016 23:41 UTC