Why does information become distorted within human systems?


Why do people believe rumors: An environment of long-term opacity can weaken trust in official information. When public authority loses credibility, civilians start seeking alternative explanations. Rumors often provide a sense of "hidden truth," creating an illusion of proximity to reality. Emotions can also reduce people's ability to verify information.
Why don't people believe rumors: They have long-term stable sources of information, they remain alert to emotional manipulation, and they can accept "not knowing for now."
The prevalence of rumors is not just because someone is lying. It’s also because people cannot endure an "uncertain reality" for long. Mature cognition often means: allowing reality to remain ambiguous temporarily until sufficient evidence is available.
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