A framework is presented for understanding how misinformation shapes decision-making, which has cognitive representations of gist at its core. I discuss how the framework goes beyond prior work, and how it can be implemented so that valid scientific messages are more likely to be effective, remembered, and shared through social media, while misinformation is resisted. The distinction between mental representations of the rote facts of a message—its verbatim representation—and its gist explains several paradoxes, including the frequent disconnect between knowing facts and, yet, making decisions that seem contrary to those facts. Decision makers can falsely remember the gist as seen or heard even when they remember verbatim facts. Indeed, misinformation can be more compelling than information when it provides an interpretation of reality that makes better sense than the facts. Consequently, for many issues, scientific information and misinformation are in a battle for the gist. A fuzzy-processing preference for simple gist explains expectations for antibiotics, the spread of misinformation about vaccination, and responses to messages about global warming, nuclear proliferation, and natural disasters. The gist, which reflects knowledge and experience, induces emotions and brings to mind social values. However, changing mental representations is not sufficient by itself; gist representations must be connected to values. The policy choice is not simply between constraining behavior or persuasion—there is another option. Science communication needs to shift from an emphasis on disseminating rote facts to achieving insight, retaining its integrity but without shying away from emotions and values.

提出了一个框架来理解错误信息如何影响决策，其核心是要点的认知表征。我讨论了该框架如何超越之前的工作，以及如何实施它，以便有效的科学信息更有可能通过社交媒体有效、被记住和分享，同时抵制错误信息。消息的死记硬背事实的心理表征（逐字表述）与其主旨之间的区别解释了几个悖论，包括知道事实与做出似乎与这些事实相反的决定之间经常脱节。即使决策者逐字记住事实，他们也可能错误地记住所看到或听到的要点。事实上，当错误信息提供的对现实的解释比事实更有意义时，错误信息可能比信息更引人注目。因此，对于许多问题，科学信息和错误信息都在争夺要点。对简单要点的模糊处理偏好解释了对抗生素的期望、有关疫苗接种的错误信息的传播以及对有关全球变暖、核扩散和自然灾害的信息的反应。主旨反映了知识和经验，引发情感，唤起社会价值观。然而，改变心理表征本身还不够。要点表示必须与值联系起来。政策选择不仅仅是在限制行为或说服之间进行——还有另一种选择。科学传播需要从强调传播死记硬背的事实转向获得洞察力，保持其完整性，但不回避情感和价值观。