illusory truth effect

psychology

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

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The illusory truth effect, also known as the validity effect, is a psychological phenomenon where people are more likely to believe a statement is true if they have been exposed to it before. This is because familiarity with a statement can create a sense of cognitive ease, leading individuals to perceive it as more credible, even if the statement is false. This effect highlights how repetition can influence our perception of truth, independent of the actual accuracy of the information. It is a type of cognitive bias that can lead to misperceptions and the acceptance of misinformation.1

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fake news
Effectiveness and countermeasures
…this phenomenon, known as the illusory truth effect, illustrate the tendency to believe false information after repeated exposure. This tendency becomes especially dangerous when combined with misattribution, leading audiences to remember the core message of a fake news story without remembering the notably false context in which it was encountered.
Read More
…this phenomenon, known as the illusory truth effect, illustrate the tendency to believe false information after repeated exposure. This tendency becomes especially dangerous when combined with misattribution, leading audiences to remember the core message of a fake news story without remembering the notably false context in which it was encountered.
Read More