On the surface, the following seems ironic in the Information Age. So many people these days grasp simplistic beliefs about complex issues and then double down on those beliefs in the face of contrary evidence. This isn't surprising at all from a psychological perspective. Rather, it’s a result of too much information and too little time. Under stress, we typically adopt more rigid perspectives.

Superficial judgments and unquestioned assumptions find reinforcement in social media, with the tendency of its algorithms to create echo chambers of biases and polemics. Social media is a contributor, of course, but by no means is it the sole contributor. Other factors are:

Most viewpoints in the media are more emotionally based judgments than intellectual arguments. Emotional statements fare much better in the highly competitive market for attention. But they are subject to emotional contagion, which refers to the........

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