Misinformation is a symptom: Commentary on Ecker et al. (2025).
Abstract
We agree with Ecker et al. (2025) that misinformation should not be ignored. The specific form that misbeliefs take is indeed shaped by misinformation (e.g., vaccines cause autism). However, this does not imply that misinformation causes behaviors (e.g., vaccine refusal). We view misinformation as a symptom of deeper problems. When many are willing to consume, believe, and act on misinformation, this is diagnostic of broader sociopolitical issues-such as polarization or widespread mistrust-that make misinformation appealing rather than misinformation causing these issues. In particular, we consider that attitudinal and structural roots explain both the consumption and acceptance of misinformation, on the one hand, and the behaviors ascribed to misinformation on the other. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Fields of Study & Subjects
Misinformation and Its Impacts
Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
Publication details
- Journal / source
- American Psychologist
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Volume
- 81
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 287–289
- Publication date
- 1 February 2026
- Language
- EN