Misinformation and Personality: Big-5 Trait Related to Misinformation Believing and Sharing

Abstract: With the advancement of media and the proliferation of new digital platforms, the Internet has become the primary channel through which individuals access information. However, this shift has also heightened the likelihood of people believing and sharing misinformation. This article explores the relationship between personality traits and the propensity to believe and share misinformation. Through a comprehensive literature review, the associations between the Big Five personality traits and misinformation are analyzed and summarized. The findings suggest that extraversion is positively associated with the belief in and sharing of misinformation, whereas conscientiousness and agreeableness are negatively associated with these behaviors. In contrast, openness to experience and neuroticism do not show a significant relationship with misinformation, belief, or sharing. At the specific period, extroversion, openness to experience and neuroticism show the positive relationship with misinformation believing. Moreover, extroversion has positive relationship with misinformation sharing during epidemic period. Effective interventions to mitigate the belief in and sharing of misinformation can include strategies such as leveraging social norms, peer influence, and promoting critical thinking. However, these interventions should be tailored to align with different personality traits to maximize their effectiveness.