Description
Book Synopsis: An engaging look at how American politics and media reinforce partisan identity and threaten democracy.
Why are so many of us wrong about so much? From COVID-19 to climate change to the results of elections, millions of Americans believe things that are simply not true—and act based on these misperceptions. In Wrong: How Media, Politics, and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation, expert in media and politics Dannagal Goldthwaite Young offers a comprehensive model that illustrates how political leaders and media organizations capitalize on our social and cultural identities to separate, enrage, and—ultimately—mobilize us.
Through a process of identity distillation encouraged by public officials, journalists, political and social media, Americans' political identities—how we think of ourselves as members of our political team—drive our belief in and demand for misinformation. It turns out that if being wrong allows us to comprehend the world, have control over it, or connect with our community, all in ways that serve our political team, then we don't want to be right.
Over the past 40 years, lawmakers in America's two major political parties have become more extreme in their positions on ideological issues. Voters from the two parties have become increasingly distinct and hostile to one another along the lines of race, religion, geography, and culture. In the process, these political identities have transformed into a useful but reductive label tied to what we look like, who we worship, where we live, and what we believe.
Young offers a road map out of this chaotic morass, including demand-side solutions that reduce the bifurcation of American society and increase our information ecosystem's accountability to empirical facts. By understanding the dynamics that encourage identity distillation, Wrong explains how to reverse this dangerous trend and strengthen American democracy in the process.
Details
Discover the unsettling truth about misinformation and its impact on American democracy in the groundbreaking book Wrong: How Media, Politics, and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation. Written by renowned media and politics expert Dannagal Goldthwaite Young, this eye-opening read sheds light on how our social and cultural identities are manipulated by political leaders and media organizations to sow division and fuel misinformation.
From COVID-19 to climate change to election results, millions of Americans hold beliefs that are simply not true. But why? Wrong delves into the psychological mechanics that influence our perceptions and actions, demonstrating how being wrong can sometimes feel right when it aligns with our political team, provides a sense of control, or fosters a connection with our community.
As both major political parties have grown increasingly extreme over the past four decades, partisan divisions have deepened along lines of race, religion, geography, and culture. Wrong exposes how our political identities have become reductive labels tied to superficial indicators like appearance, faith, residence, and ideology. This insightful book serves as a wake-up call, urging us to confront the destructive consequences of identity distillation.
However, there is hope. Young presents a roadmap to restoring sanity and unity to our society. Through demand-side solutions, Wrong proposes strategies to bridge the widening chasm between Americans, holding our information ecosystem accountable to verifiable facts. By understanding the dynamics that perpetuate identity distillation, we can reverse this perilous trajectory and strengthen the very foundations of American democracy.
Don't miss out on the intellectual journey that is Wrong: How Media, Politics, and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation. Gain valuable insights into the forces at play in our society and empower yourself to question, challenge, and seek truth amidst the chaos. Click here to order your copy today and take a stand for a more informed and united America.
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