The Backfire Effect

I admit, I'm not huge fan of Adam Ruins Everything, but I like this clip for 3 reasons:

1. He's getting beaten up
2. BY A GIRL
3. Who makes great points on why a lot of arguing doesn't work. 

There's good information here, and I think it's useful for people who like me are constantly talking to, and sometimes arguing against, people who want to take our rights away. The part about Identity Protective Cognition explains why people "double down" when confronted with facts, and the advice to provide people with "an alternative narrative that is true" rather than just telling them they're wrong while shoving facts at them is good advice for everyone .

I hope you find this useful. 

Here's a list of the sources cited:

• "But the surprising truth is, disproving a misconception can actually strengthen a person's belief in that misconception." Craig Silverman. "The Backfire Effect: More on the Press's Inability to Debunk Bad Information." Columbia Journalism Review, 17 Jun 2011.
• "One study showed that when people concerned about the side effects of the flu shot were informed that it was safe, they actually became less willing to get it." Cari Romm. "Vaccine Mythbusting can Backfire." The Atlantic, 12 Dec 2014.
• "Being proven wrong actually activates the same areas of the brain as real physical pain." C. Nathan DeWall, Geoff MacDonald, Gregory D. Webster, Carrie L. Masten, Roy F. Baumeister, Caitlin Powell, David Combs, David R. Schurtz, Tyler F. Stillman, Dianne M. Tice, and Naomi I. Eisenberger. "Acetaminophen Reduces Social Pain." Psychological Science, 14 Jun 2010.
• "Don't do it, some experts say [Soulcycle] can be bad for you." James S. Fell. "In-Your-Face Fitness: SoulCycle's mix of cycling and upper-body workouts raises concerns." The Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov 2011.
• "But when the truth threatens their identity, they push back hard." Maria Konnikova. "I Don't Want To Be Right." The New Yorker, 16 May 2014.
• "When a fact contradicts our beliefs, we often hide behind emotional arguments that can't be disproven." Troy Campbell. "Why People Fly From Facts." Scientific American, 3 Mar 2015.
• "The "Backfire Effect" happens because our emotions are faster than logical thoughts." Chris Mooney. "The Science of Why We Don't Believe Science." Mother Jones, May/Jun 2011.