Some Individual Differences as a Basis for Susceptibility to Misinformation and False News

Mersiha Jusić, Lejla Mustoo Başer

Abstract


The increase in the amount of misinformation and fake news, especially on social networks and on critically important topics, poses a threat to informed decision-making, both at the individual level and at the collective level. Although media literacy is often touted as the solution, psychological factors also play a key role in strengthening resistance to misinformation. This paper deals with understanding resilience through the analysis of cognitive, emotional-motivational and social processes, which include critical thinking, self-awareness and emotional regulation. We investigate how personality traits function as a filter of information from the outside and interact with social identity and group dynamics, potentially increasing susceptibility to misinformation and fake news. The most significant finding of the work is that resilience is not only a cognitive skill but a much broader psychological capacity based on individual differences and social context. In the paper, we emphasize how these insights can serve as a basis for targeted and theoretically grounded interventions aimed at strengthening resistance to misinformation. Finally, we conclude that resilience to misinformation represents a vital community resource that needs to be proactively nurtured, not only through reactive media strategies but also through preventive psychoeducational work.

Keywords


resillience; misinformation; fake news; personality traits; Big five

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.51558/2490-3647.2026.11.1.763

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