Prof. Dr. Magda Saraiva (Ispa -Instituto Universitário, Portugal) will give a lecture entitled “Correção de desinformação e julgamentos de verdade: o impacto da repetição e da contradição”.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Magda Saraiva is a Researcher at the William James Center for Research (ISPA) and holds a PhD in Psychology from the University of Minho. Her research focuses on basic cognitive processes, with particular emphasis on collaborative memory, false memories, and misinformation in social contexts. She currently coordinates the CONTRAVERSE project, funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
When/Where: 19th November 2026, 14h30, at Ispa – Instituto Universitário (Sala de Atos).
Abstract:
Misinformation represents a growing challenge with significant social, political, and economic consequences. One of the psychological mechanisms associated with its spread is the Illusion of Truth Effect (IOT): repeated information tends to be perceived as more truthful, regardless of its actual veracity.
In contrast, information that contradicts previously presented content may be judged as less truthful than novel information, a phenomenon known as the Illusion of Falseness (IOF).
These effects raise important questions about the effectiveness of strategies for correcting misinformation. This presentation will discuss the effects of repetition and contradiction on the evaluation and sharing of information, as well as the role of processing fluency in truth judgments and the persistence of misinformation.
WJCR 