To debunk a myth, you often have to mention it –
otherwise, how will people know what you’re talking
about? However, this makes people more familiar
with the myth and hence more likely to accept it
as true. Does this mean debunking a myth might
actually reinforce it in people’s minds.
To test for this backfire effect, people were
shown a flyer that debunked common myths
about flu vaccines.
Afterwards, they were asked
to separate the myths from the facts. When
asked immediately after reading the flyer ... Read even more
