When sharers become correctors: Exploring self-corrected debunking in a pandemic context

Computers in Human Behavior Reports, vol. 22, pp. 101091

Abstract

This study introduces self-corrected debunking —a form of bottom-up correction in which individuals who previously shared misinformation voluntarily disseminate corrective information upon realizing their mistakes. Using a naturalistic online survey conducted in China during the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak (February 2020; N = 1,317), we examined how emotional (e.g., guilt, shame) and cognitive (i.e., self-blame, self-justification) reactions to misinformation sharing, along with pandemic-related situational factors, predicted debunking actions and intentions. Results revealed distinct patterns across groups: among prior sharers, cognitive reactions promoted debunking under low or medium risk perception but hindered it under high institutional trust; among newly aware sharers, emotional reactions predicted debunking intentions when paired with high information seeking or institutional trust; among non-sharers, no significant reaction-based predictors emerged. These findings demonstrate how psychological and contextual factors jointly shape self-corrected debunking and offer insights for promoting individual engagement in misinformation mitigation.

Authors 3

1. Zhiqin Chen corresponding

   Zhejiang University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

   Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Neurocognitive Development and Mental Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

2. Xueting Zhang Aachen Social

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Social, Economic and Organisational Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands

3. Xiaofei Xie corresponding

   Peking University

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, Beijing, China