Do you ever wonder how some people believe outrageous-sounding lies? Social scientists may have the answer: people are influenced by the Truth Bias.
Truth Bias occurs when we trust other people, even when we should not, based on credible evidence. This behavior can play out in political campaigns when rumors or false facts are spread, even perhaps proved untrue, but still influence voters at the polls.
You can counter the effects of your own Truth Bias. The next time you hear something hostile or suspicious about a candidate, research using reliable, unbiased, factual sources. Remember that truth bias influences all humans, so be compassionate towards others.