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A literature review of bullshit receptivity: Perspectives for an informed policy making against misinformation

Author

Listed:
  • Serena Iacobucci

    (Laboratory of Behavioral Economics (BE-Lab) Department of Neurosciences, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara)

  • Roberta De Cicco

    (Center for Advanced Studies and Technologies (CAST))

Abstract

Since the publication of Pennycook and colleagues' (2015) paper on the reception of pseudo-profound bullshit, the concept of bullshit (BS) receptivity has slowly gained interest as an individual characteristic of people with the tendency to be overly receptive of and sensitive to fake claims. This paper seeks to identify and discuss peer-reviewed literature that applies BS receptivity scales, to better define their role within the bigger picture of the characteristics of those individuals particularly prone to the reception of a whole range of outlandish beliefs. Considering the cross-cutting nature of the issue, we prompt the need for further empirical and applicative research, and underline that - with BS receptivity belonging to the set of determinants contributing to flawed decision-making in terms of spotting genuine from fake content - greater involvement of behavioral economists is desirable. We call for such involvement not only within the BS debate, but also in assisting policymakers in their hard task of developing tailored policy responses and digital literacy interventions to combat misinformation and disinformation at its roots.

Suggested Citation

  • Serena Iacobucci & Roberta De Cicco, 2022. "A literature review of bullshit receptivity: Perspectives for an informed policy making against misinformation," Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE), vol. 6(S1), pages 23-40, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:beh:jbepv1:v:6:y:2022:i:s1:p:23-40
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Craig Matasick & Carlotta Alfonsi & Alessandro Bellantoni, 2020. "Governance responses to disinformation: How open government principles can inform policy options," OECD Working Papers on Public Governance 39, OECD Publishing.
    2. repec:cup:judgdm:v:11:y:2016:i:4:p:352-360 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Cass R. Sunstein & Richard H. Thaler, 2003. "Libertarian paternalism is not an oxymoron," Conference Series ; [Proceedings], Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, vol. 48(Jun).
    4. On Amir & Dan Ariely & Alan Cooke & David Dunning & Nicholas Epley & Uri Gneezy & Botond Koszegi & Donald Lichtenstein & Nina Mazar & Sendhil Mullainathan & Drazen Prelec & Eldar Shafir & Jose Silva, 2005. "Psychology, Behavioral Economics, and Public Policy," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 443-454, December.
    5. repec:cup:judgdm:v:15:y:2020:i:3:p:401-412 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Romer, Daniel & Jamieson, Kathleen Hall, 2020. "Conspiracy theories as barriers to controlling the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    7. repec:cup:judgdm:v:10:y:2015:i:6:p:549-563 is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Vojtech Pisl & Jan Volavka & Edita Chvojkova & Katerina Cechova & Gabriela Kavalirova & Jan Vevera, 2021. "Dissociation, Cognitive Reflection and Health Literacy Have a Modest Effect on Belief in Conspiracy Theories about COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
    9. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    10. Gordon Pennycook & Ziv Epstein & Mohsen Mosleh & Antonio A. Arechar & Dean Eckles & David G. Rand, 2021. "Shifting attention to accuracy can reduce misinformation online," Nature, Nature, vol. 592(7855), pages 590-595, April.
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    14. Persson, Emil & Tinghög, Gustav, 2020. "Opportunity cost neglect in public policy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 301-312.
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    Cited by:

    1. Serena Iacobucci & Roberta De Cicco, 2022. "Erratum to "A Literature Review of Bullshit Receptivity: Perspectives for an Informed Policy Making Against Misinformation"," Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE), vol. 6(1), pages 55-56, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    bullshit receptivity; misinformation; disinformation; fake news; digital literacy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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