Sigma Nutrition Radio #576: The Social Psychology of Health Beliefs and Misinformation – Matthew Facciani, PhD
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Sep 9, 2025 
Dr. Matthew Facciani, a postdoctoral researcher at The University of Notre Dame, dives into the intricate world of health beliefs and misinformation. He explains how social psychology influences our acceptance of health claims and the role of identity in shaping these beliefs. The discussion covers innovative approaches to improve media literacy through gaming and highlights the importance of community connection in combating misinformation. Facciani emphasizes the need for critical thinking to navigate today's complex information landscape.
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Academic Path That Shaped His Focus
- Matthew Facciani described switching mid-PhD from neuroscience to sociology to study social influences on belief formation.
- He traced his interest from neural decoding to social psychology and conformity experiments like Asch's line study.
Identities Shape How We Interpret Evidence
- Identities are sets of meanings tied to groups, roles, or self-concepts that provide self-esteem and motivate consistent action.
- This social identity process can bias interpretation of evidence to protect group meanings.
Narrow Identities Increase Susceptibility
- Overreliance on a single identity (e.g., an influencer tied to a diet) makes people highly motivated to defend related beliefs.
- Narrow self-esteem sources increase susceptibility to misinformation and rigid thinking.
