Cognitive biases and brain biology help explain why facts don’t change minds

Here are some reasons for the natural human tendency to avoid or reject new information that runs counter to what you already know – and some tips on how to do better.

By: Keith M. Bellizzi, University of Connecticut, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 29, 2026

Words: 1,238

Last Updated: 1 month, 3 weeks ago

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By Keith M. Bellizzi, University of Connecticut

“Facts First” is the tagline of a CNN branding campaign which contends that “once facts are established, opinions can be formed.” The problem is that while it sounds logical, this appealing assertion is a fallacy not supported by research.

Cognitive psychology and neuroscience studies have found that the exact opposite is often true when it comes to politics: People form opinions based on emotions, such as …

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