In short, being a wingnut is a mental phenomenon called "motivated reasoning."
Some people form and cling to false beliefs about health-care reform (or Obama's citizenship) despite overwhelming evidence thanks to a mental phenomenon called motivated reasoning, says sociologist Steven Hoffman, visiting assistant professor at the University at Buffalo. "Rather than search rationally for information that either confirms or disconfirms a particular belief," he says, "people actually seek out information that confirms what they already believe." And God knows, in the Internet age there is no dearth of sources to confirm even the most ludicrous claims (my favorite being that the moon landings were faked). "For the most part," says Hoffman, "people completely ignore contrary information" and are able to "develop elaborate rationalizations based on faulty information."
The article goes on to compare how some people irrationally believe the outrageous lies being spread about health care reform with those who believe the false claim that Saddam Hussein was involved in the 9/11 attacks - even after being shown proof that clearly discounts their beliefs.
For their study, the scientists whittled down surveys filled out by 246 voters, of whom 73 percent believed in a Saddam-9/11 link, to 49 believers who were willing to be interviewed at length in October 2004. Even after the 49 were shown newspaper articles reporting that the 9/11 Commission had not found any evidence linking Saddam and 9/11, and quoting President Bush himself denying it, 48 stuck to their guns: yup, Saddam Hussein, directly or indirectly, brought down the Twin Towers.
Wsheew, talk about delusional!
The entire article by Sharon Begley is quite insightful for those of us who try to understand the illogical reasoning behind a wingnut's opinions. Now that I know they are mentally handicapped, I may feel a little sorry for them.
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