the backfire effect

The Backfire Effect refers to a psychological phenomenon where, instead of changing their beliefs when presented with contradictory evidence, people become more entrenched in their original views. For example, if someone strongly believes a false statement and is shown facts that disprove it, they may reject the evidence and cling even more to their belief. This reaction often occurs because accepting new information can be unsettling, challenging a person's identity or worldview. Essentially, well-intentioned attempts to correct misinformation can sometimes reinforce it instead.