Belief and Reasoning Biases
Backfire effect
Sometimes correcting a belief can make it feel more entrenched.
What Is Backfire effect?
Backfire effect is a thinking trap where sometimes correcting a belief can make it feel more entrenched.
How It Tricks You
It can make a conclusion feel proven because it fits what already seems true.
Real-World Example
A correction makes someone defend the original claim even harder.
Seen Online As
- That correction makes me trust my original view even more.
- If they are pushing this hard, the opposite must be true.
- The debunking feels like proof they are hiding something.
What To Ask Instead
Am I defending identity instead of evaluating evidence?
Related Thinking Traps
Common Situations
Quick FAQ
What is Backfire effect?
Sometimes correcting a belief can make it feel more entrenched.
What is an example of Backfire effect?
A correction makes someone defend the original claim even harder.
How do I spot Backfire effect?
Am I defending identity instead of evaluating evidence?