Why facts don’t matter to Trump’s supporters

[Cigar]

https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2016/08/04/Editorial-Opinion/Images/CAMPAIGN_2016_TRUMP-6d5c7-1293.jpg?uuid=jIWNpFqIEeaDHQMkdgyoVg
A Donald Trump supporter, left, plugs his ears while passing protesters waving signs and chanting against the Republican presidential nominee at a Trump rally in Denver.

How did Donald Trump win the Republican nomination, despite clear evidence that he had misrepresented or falsified key issues throughout the campaign? Social scientists have some intriguing explanations for why people persist in misjudgments despite strong contrary evidence.


Trump is a vivid and, to his critics, a frightening present-day illustration of this perception problem. But it has been studied carefully by researchers for more than 30 years. Basically, the studies show that attempts to refute false information often backfire and lead people to hold on to their misperceptions even more strongly.


Graves’s article examined the puzzle of why nearly one-third of U.S. parents believe that childhood vaccines cause autism, despite overwhelming medical evidence that there’s no such link. In such cases, he noted, “arguing the facts doesn’t help — in fact, it makes the situation worse.” The reason is that people tend to accept arguments that confirm their views and discount facts that challenge what they believe.


This “confirmation bias” was outlined in a 1979 article by psychologist Charles Lord (http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.372.1743&rep=rep1&type=pdf), cited by Graves. Lord found that his test subjects, when asked questions about capital punishment, responded with answers shaped by their prior beliefs. “Instead of changing their minds, most will dig in their heels and cling even more firmly to their originally held views,” Graves explained in summarizing the study.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-facts-dont-matter-to-trumps-supporters/2016/08/04/924ece4a-5a78-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html

[birddog]

To be a liberal is to be a liar! Some conservatives and others don't tolerate lies, nor do they want to listen to them. Libs also tend to avoid common sense deduction.

[Chris]

Why? For the same reasons facts don't matter to Clinton supporters.

[Standing Wolf]

To be a liberal is to be a liar! Some conservatives and others don't tolerate lies, nor do they want to listen to them. Libs also tend to avoid common sense deduction.

Well, that addresses - sort of - why provably false statements by "liberals" wouldn't be listened to or believed. What about when something a "conservative" (or a loose cannon like DJT) states is disproven, and yet many will refuse to accept reality and choose, instead, to cling to their talking points? That is, after all, what the story cited in the OP is all about - refusing to listen to things that are provably true.

[Subdermal]

Well, that addresses - sort of - why provably false statements by "liberals" wouldn't be listened to or believed. What about when something a "conservative" (or a loose cannon like DJT) states is disproven, and yet many will refuse to accept reality and choose, instead, to cling to their talking points? That is, after all, what the story cited in the OP is all about - refusing to listen to things that are provably true.

Are you going to offer a common stance that is held by the majority of Trump supporters that is provably false - or just another opinion of a leftist?

This crap is simply more propaganda.

Cigar's new name is Rose. Hails from Toyko. Just a mouthpiece; not smart enough to actually think for himself.

[Cigar]

Why? For the same reasons facts don't matter to Clinton supporters.

Would you know to provide comparable specifics or is this just a pivot away from Trump?


“arguing the facts doesn’t help — in fact, it makes the situation worse.” The reason is that people tend to accept arguments that confirm their views and discount facts that challenge what they believe.

This is “confirmation bias”

[Chris]

Would you know to provide comparable specifics or is this just a pivot away from Trump?

Just putting Clinton and Trump in the same...divot.

[Subdermal]

You offered specifics yourself?

The article - in its asinine disjointed way - cites autism and vaccines?

:biglaugh:

Do you know what percentage of the 33% of the population which believes that are leftists?

They plop that anecdote in the article - front and center - hoping to associate it with Trump supporters?

BWHAHAHAHAHAHA leftist hacks are leftist hacks.

[Cigar]

Just putting Clinton and Trump in the same...divot.

As you can clearly see ... they're not in the same divot :grin:

[Mac-7]

https://img.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_1484w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2016/08/04/Editorial-Opinion/Images/CAMPAIGN_2016_TRUMP-6d5c7-1293.jpg?uuid=jIWNpFqIEeaDHQMkdgyoVg
A Donald Trump supporter, left, plugs his ears while passing protesters waving signs and chanting against the Republican presidential nominee at a Trump rally in Denver.

How did Donald Trump win the Republican nomination, despite clear evidence that he had misrepresented or falsified key issues throughout the campaign? Social scientists have some intriguing explanations for why people persist in misjudgments despite strong contrary evidence.


Trump is a vivid and, to his critics, a frightening present-day illustration of this perception problem. But it has been studied carefully by researchers for more than 30 years. Basically, the studies show that attempts to refute false information often backfire and lead people to hold on to their misperceptions even more strongly.


Graves’s article examined the puzzle of why nearly one-third of U.S. parents believe that childhood vaccines cause autism, despite overwhelming medical evidence that there’s no such link. In such cases, he noted, “arguing the facts doesn’t help — in fact, it makes the situation worse.” The reason is that people tend to accept arguments that confirm their views and discount facts that challenge what they believe.


This “confirmation bias” was outlined in a 1979 article by psychologist Charles Lord (http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.372.1743&rep=rep1&type=pdf), cited by Graves. Lord found that his test subjects, when asked questions about capital punishment, responded with answers shaped by their prior beliefs. “Instead of changing their minds, most will dig in their heels and cling even more firmly to their originally held views,” Graves explained in summarizing the study.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-facts-dont-matter-to-trumps-supporters/2016/08/04/924ece4a-5a78-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html


Cigar, ask your surrogate brain at the WP to tell you what facts trump supporters are ignoring and then report back to us.

[FindersKeepers]

That is, after all, what the story cited in the OP is all about - refusing to listen to things that are provably true.

*Some* of the allegations are provably true -- but many are a practice in twisting and deception.

Take the allegation that Trump said women have to be "treated like $hit." He did say that -- but he didn't say it about women in general. He said it during a conversation about women who don't have self esteem and like being abused.

There are plenty of things Trump says that can be held against him, but many, many more are based on intellectual dishonesty.

[Peter1469]

Hillary's criminality and dishonesty are overlooked by those interested in the status quo and the march towards globalism.

Trump's brashness and lack of focus are overlooked by those interested in bucking the establishment and in nationalism.

[Standing Wolf]

Trump says something that is provably untrue almost every single day. One of his biggest problems is that he has no filter - he just says whatever pops into his head, meaning that he is constantly re-creating his own views and history, based on what he thinks people want to hear. A day or two ago, he talked about seeing a video of the pallets of money that the U.S. sent to Iran being unloaded; it turns out that no such video exists. A week or so ago, he said that he'd received a letter from the NFL concerning the debate schedule; it turns out that no such letter was ever written. A while back he stated that if he'd been in charge, the U.S. would never have bombed Libya; a video from 2011 shows Trump calling for the bombing of Libya. Entire websites exist detailing his gaffes, misstatements and outright lies. Are you suggesting that Trump's supporters - who cheer and applaud whatever he says at his rallies - are aware that anything the man says has about a 70% chance of being total b.s. and continue to support him anyway?

[Cigar]

Hillary's criminality and dishonesty are overlooked by those interested in the status quo and the march towards globalism.

Trump's brashness and lack of focus are overlooked by those interested in bucking the establishment and in nationalism.

No ... she has repeatedly admitted it was wrong, something you'll never hear from trump

[Peter1469]

No ... she has repeatedly admitted it was wrong, something you'll never hear from trump

She has not admitted that lying to Congress was wrong. Ditto with lying to the American people. However, only the former is a criminal offense.

[maineman]

hey...doom and gloom Trumpeteers! Take a look at this chart:

http://thearorareport.com/chart-weekly-initial-jobless-claims-streak

[Newpublius]

.....because the government's ACTIONS speak louder than Trump's WORDS......the government's track record SUCKS and Trump isn't responsible for ANY of that.

[decedent]

They're old and angry.

[Common]

Lol liberals think that trump supporters have to or want to listen to their whiney drivel, such stupid shit

[maineman]

Lol liberals think that trump supporters have to or want to listen to their whiney drivel, such stupid shit

you will have to listen to us talk about Madame President in a few months, however. The Donald is circling the drain... big time. He is even behind Hillary in fucking Georgia, of all places!

[Newpublius]

you will have to listen to us talk about Madame President in a few months, however. The Donald is circling the drain... big time. He is even behind Hillary in $#@!ing Georgia, of all places!

It's a beautiful thing, Trumpism necessarily sinks SOMEBODY. I don't need the Republican party in its current state. Winning for the sake of winning with an 'R' on the label is irrelevant to me. In all probability Hillary will prevail and if that happens I hope you take both houses too and send McConnel and Ryan home. I really do. Ideally, she'll win and she'll die leaving Kaine to finish the term.

[maineman]

I don't share your macabre sentiments about Hillary, but I would love to see united government in 2017... and then, goddamn, my fucking democratic party better get their acts together and get lots of shit done for America because, just like in 2010, America in all its ADHD glory and its addiction on immediate gratification, will pitch us out again if we fiddle-fuck around too long.

[Crepitus]

To be a liberal is to be a liar! Some conservatives and others don't tolerate lies, nor do they want to listen to them. Libs also tend to avoid common sense deduction.
LOL!

A. Nothing to do with the topic.

B. Absolutely confirms the premise set out in the topic.

[Newpublius]

I don't share your macabre sentiments about Hillary, but I would love to see united government in 2017... and then, goddamn, my $#@!ing democratic party better get their acts together and get lots of $#@! done for America because, just like in 2010, America in all its ADHD glory and its addiction on immediate gratification, will pitch us out again if we fiddle-$#@! around too long.

The country will not unite politically. It's bitterly divided at this point and even landslide 10 point victories don't 'unite' it. Actually if you look at the polls over the course of not only this election cycle but also the last, the amount of variation is astounding. It's almost like there's essentially two blocks vying for power and they are trying to convince this zany fickle portion of the electorate to go their way.

As far as I'm concerned the greatest threat to my freedom is you and your ilk. Nothing about this election will change that because all the hopes and dreams you pin onto the government can never come to terms with the institutuon's fundamental ineptness.

[Peter1469]

The country will not unite politically. It's bitterly divided at this point and even landslide 10 point victories don't 'unite' it. Actually if you look at the polls over the course of not only this election cycle but also the last, the amount of variation is astounding. It's almost like there's essentially two blocks vying for power and they are trying to convince this zany fickle portion of the electorate to go their way.

As far as I'm concerned the greatest threat to my freedom is you and your ilk. Nothing about this election will change that because all the hopes and dreams you pin onto the government can never come to terms with the institutuon's fundamental ineptness.

Precisely.

The only good that will come of a hard left take over is complete collapse. Then patriots will fix what was destroyed.

[Mac-7]

Trump says something that is provably untrue almost every single day. One of his biggest problems is that he has no filter - he just says whatever pops into his head, meaning that he is constantly re-creating his own views and history, based on what he thinks people want to hear.



A week or so ago, he said that he'd received a letter from the NFL concerning the debate schedule; it turns out that no such letter was ever written. A while back he stated that if he'd been in charge, the U.S. would never have bombed Libya; a video from 2011 shows Trump calling for the bombing of Libya. Entire websites exist detailing his gaffes, misstatements and outright lies. Are you suggesting that Trump's supporters - who cheer and applaud whatever he says at his rallies - are aware that anything the man says has about a 70% chance of being total b.s. and continue to support him anyway?

The iranian government has a video of the $400 million ransom payment.

Trump was wrong about the other video but its really a minor point that liberals have sensationalized.

One of the hostages has confirmed that he was not allowed to leave until the ransom was paid.

To me that a more serious issue to talk about