CIMA Project

Intuitive and reflective processes of misinformation: why we fall for erroneous causal explanations. (PID2025-168186NB-I00)

This project aims to examine the problem of misinformation through the lens of cognitive biases and causal learning processes. We propose that many erroneous causal beliefs in domains as diverse as health (e.g., Vaccines cause autism) or climate (Governments can control the weather) stem from cognitive biases such as causal illusion, which is the perception of a causal relationship where none exists. These biases are more likely to arise in contexts where intuitive thinking outweighs deliberation. Project funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033