Belief and Reasoning Biases

Continued influence effect

Letting misinformation keep influencing you after correction.

What Is Continued influence effect?

Continued influence effect is a thinking trap where letting misinformation keep influencing you after correction.

How It Tricks You

It can make a conclusion feel proven because it fits what already seems true.

Real-World Example

A debunked headline still affects how someone remembers the story.

Seen Online As

• The fast interpretation is doing more work than the evidence.
• The claim feels obvious before the check question is asked.
• A shortcut is making the judgment feel more certain than it is.

What To Ask Instead

What parts of the old story are still lingering?

Related Thinking Traps

• Anchoring bias
• Confirmation bias
• Framing effect
• Loss aversion

Common Situations

• Thinking Traps at Work
• Thinking Traps in Politics
• Thinking Traps Online

Quick FAQ

What is Continued influence effect?

Letting misinformation keep influencing you after correction.

What is an example of Continued influence effect?

A debunked headline still affects how someone remembers the story.

How do I spot Continued influence effect?

What parts of the old story are still lingering?