The Relationship between the Evaluation of Coping Behavior and Guilt for Spreading Misinformation

Focusing on the Compensatory Effect of Critical Thinking Disposition

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between guilt for spreading misinformation and evaluating the need for coping behaviors, focusing on the compensatory effect of a disposition for critical thinking. Participants (N = 700) were asked to read scenarios about sharing misinformation on SNS and to evaluate their level of guilt and need for coping behaviors. The results showed that the levels of guilt and critical thinking disposition were positively associated with the evaluation of the need for coping behaviors. They also showed an interaction effect between guilt and critical thinking disposition. Thus, a disposition for critical thinking may have a compensatory effect by encouraging coping behaviors, especially for people who have a low level of guilt for spreading misinformation.