What is the Backfire Effect?
Discover this cognitive bias and five key ways to become omnipartial
In my last essay, I wrote about the far-reaching impact cognitive biases have on our lives. Today, we’re going to be looking at another cognitive bias with a surprising influence: The backfire effect. After a nifty little cognitive experiment, I’ll share five ways you can become omnipartial in your life and relationships. Let’s get into it.
What is the backfire effect?
We all have things we’re passionate about and deeply believe in. With the backfire effect, when we hear contradictory evidence to our convictions and beliefs, it strengthens them.
No one ever convinced anyone that they were wrong in a single conversation by using more data. With the backfire effect in play, they’re going to double down on their views, even if they’re very, very wrong.
Reckon you’re immune to the backfire effect, or want to see how it affects you?
Let’s do an experiment!
We’re going to look at some facts that might challenge your understanding of reality.
Thomas Edison did not invent the lightbulb.
People have been using the lightbulb for a long time. Sure, Thomas Edison improved upon the lightbulb and made it accessible to the rest of us, but he didn't invent it.
How does it feel to take that in? Perhaps you think it’s a pretty interesting fact to tell your friends.
Let’s move on to the next one.
Less than 100 people die each year from mass shootings.
There was an uptick to 117 fatalities in 2017 when we had the Las Vegas shooting. Other than that, there have never been more than 100 deaths from mass shootings in a year in the US.
Do you feel defensive right now? Do you feel like you want to protect it?
Let's go a little bit further here. Who's dying of all the gun deaths?
Two-thirds of gun deaths are suicides.
In 2019, there were 39,707 deaths from firearms in the US. 23,941 of these were suicide. The firearm suicide rate has actually increased by 12.5% over the last decade.
More people died from the flu compared to gun deaths
In five out of the last ten years, more people have died from the flu than from gun deaths. It brings up the question: Why don’t we put our energy into vaccinating people rather than just brigading against firearms? Less than half of adults receive a flu vaccine, and that could save 40-50,000 lives.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t be working toward gun control, but we can care about more than one important thing at a time.
Did it feel threatening to have your beliefs challenged? Let me know in the comments.
The backfire effect compounds with our natural need for simplicity. We already want to know everything and be right. When it comes to political issues, hearing new information that challenges our beliefs supercharges the backfire effect.
So, what other challenges are we facing with our cognitive biases?
The Dunning-Kruger effect
This cognitive bias affects everyone. People who aren’t knowledgeable on a topic think they know it all and overestimate their expertise, while the experts believe they don’t know enough and undervalue their knowledge.
Experts are more likely to say, “We’re not totally sure about this,” while the people who don’t really know what they’re talking about are going to say, “Yep, I’m 100% sure about that—it’s a fact!” We’re already aware of the distrust the population has in experts, and this effect can exacerbate that. Some people think that ten minutes of Googling a topic equates to a Ph.D. in biology, and this “research” method is becoming more common. Social media disinformation and polarization are fueling this crisis.
We’re living in an adversarial political system, and the Dunning-Kruger effect just adds to our problems. Everyone thinks they know more than “the other side.” Politicians know this is happening; they understand human nature. But are they intentionally driving it or merely playing into it?
Regardless, the prevalent good and evil discourse really works for them as they push blame over accountability. It’s much easier to blame the other party than hold their hands up and admit to political mistakes. That’s because winning is the be-all, end-all.
Unfortunately, our system prioritizes beating the other side. It wants clear, straightforward answers to wicked problems. These simple solutions can’t work in our complicated world, but no one is willing to admit that our problems are complex. The political industry prioritizes soundbites over well-thought-out policies.
The worst part? The media loves this. The soundbites make great headlines, and they crave conflict because they profit from it. They get to divide our country even more and cash in. We’re part of the problem here, though: Many of us find conflict entertaining. People love us-versus-them stories where a hero protagonist wins over evil, but our world isn’t that simple.
Still, for most of us, it’s all we know; The polarizing media stories compound all our biases and distortions of reality. So, how can we get out of this damaging mindset?
What can we do to become omnipartial?
I spoke about Professor Martin Carcasson in my last essay, and he had some fantastic insights into how we can handle this strategically. He had five key ideas:
1. Presume wicked problems, not wicked people
This is actually a fundamental tenet of mediation: The problem is the problem, not the person. Focusing on the problem is vital for our relationships.
2. Become more comfortable with uncertainty
As we know, one cognitive bias is the need for certainty and safety. We need to start being more comfortable in uncertainty, as it’s not changing any time soon.
3. Put your energy toward identifying and negotiating inherent tensions
We must sniff out the problems and see what doesn’t make sense. We should actually be seeking cognitive dissonance. It’s uncomfortable, and the backfire effect can get in the way, but we must take on other viewpoints to be omnipartial.
4. Work toward creating a learning community
Of course, we can’t do this alone. Even if you and I know how to deal with the world’s problems, we need everyone else on board too. That’s where sharing our knowledge and engaging in thoughtful conversations come in.
5. Focus on elevating the conversation, not winning the argument
As my recent podcast guest, Bill Shireman, says, we can either be problem solvers or warriors. Thankfully, most of us are problem solvers. Warriors are so profoundly entrenched in their perspective that it’s not conducive to togetherness. Trying to fight with people over their deeply held beliefs isn’t helpful for elevating the discussion.
In episode eight of the Omni-Win Project Podcast, Bill Shireman discusses why we need to be problem solvers, not warriors, and how the media is intensely polarizing us. You can find the podcast here. You can check out the Substack episode page for more highlights and clips.
I’d love it if you could join me in co-creating the future of democracy.
Martin’s four key shift ideas are:
From wicked people to wicked problems
From adversaries to collaborators
From inciting the worst in human nature to bringing out the best in humanity
From facts as cherry-picked ammunition and fake news to facts as tools to solve problems together
The cool thing about being human is that we can make these things happen. We can change for the better and collaborate. And the best thing that we’ve learned from neuroscience? There’s one simple trick to overcoming our biases. Yep, I said that clickbaity phrase, but it’s real:
Sit down, have a genuine, respectful conversation, and find common ground.
What would it look like for you to be open to hearing other people’s stories? To discover their truth and reality, not just what you’ve heard through the media? Here’s a great clip from Raye Rawls from my recent podcast episode about the importance of listening to other peoples’ stories:
We’re not fighting against a group. Everyone has a story; they’re individuals just like you. Discover how their story impacted their worldview, and it’ll open your eyes to other dimensions and maybe even stir up a little cognitive dissonance. That’s where the magic happens.
Thank you for reading and for being open to growth and change. We all need to do our part for an omni-win future.
If you prefer to watch your content, here’s a video on the topic of this essay:
Have you subscribed to the Omni-Win Project Podcast yet? Find it on your preferred platform and join the co-creation journey. Don’t miss your chance to make a difference.
Check out the new Omni-Win Project website and follow me on other platforms.
It would also be great if you could subscribe to my YouTube channel, where you can watch more of my long-form content, authentic discussions, and weekly videos:
You can schedule a call with me here: https://calendly.com/duncanautrey