Applying Cognitive Psychology Principles to the (Dis)Information Environment: An Examination of Discourse Comprehension, Memory, and Fusion of News Articles

Disinformation campaigns such as fake news have evolved beyond traditional propaganda and are being used in strategic ways. Further, sources of information have changed from traditional media (newspapers, fliers, radio) to multi social media platforms (Twitter, You-Tube, Reddit). This paper addresses how cognitive psychology research related to traditional texts and news discourse applies to information garnered in the changing social media environment and especially false information. Specifically, the memory representations that readers create when they read text and how they are able to integrate complex ideas from multiple sources (including images) are reviewed. An emphasis is placed on the fragility of memory representations such as the susceptibility to information reconstruction and how that vulnerability can interact with disinformation. Potential ways to counter disinformation are explored such as perspective shifting, changing the context, and thinking analytically. In addition, this paper will identifies what gaps need to be addressed in the growing research areas of misinformation and fake news.