November 2024

Mural by Wes Sam Bruce and Armando Silva, Greeley, CO, USA

Introduction

Dear Mindbridge Community,

It was never about rationality. But it was always about understanding. Understanding the way in which destabilizing factors – economic insecurities, threats regarding immigration (real or imagined), increasing polarization – fueled underlying anxieties and insecurities, all of which combined beneath the surface to drive endorsement of authoritarian positions and, increasingly, overt calls to violence.

Mindbridge has been raising concerns for years about the spread and normalization of these dynamics in the general public, observing how rhetoric and emotionally charged narratives once confined to the fringes have entered the mainstream.

We sounded the alarm in 2022, reiterated our concerns in 2023, and have convened discussions with organizations on this pressing issue throughout this year. This was not the stage for the lone horse, but how these processes had mobilized en mass an entire populace driven now to the point of supporting a leader who clearly endorses hate, violence, and division… and whose hate and divisiveness will now spread like wildfire to other parts of the globe. He is the manifestation of our underlying fears.

The battle was never about the election. With such close races in each and every state, even if Harris had been elected, these fears and misgivings would have festered just under the surface, ultimately rising again when the time was right. The real battle is in front of us. This may be the path some pursued, but it’s not one we all chose, and now we must ask ourselves how many of us are willing to rise and challenge it.

So go take the time you need. Take care of yourself. Cry, shout, take the day off. The battle is coming, and we need you here.

Onward.

- Laura Ligouri
Mindbridge Executive Director


Program Spotlight: I am a Human Rights Defender

Every day, we have the power to advocate for human rights by speaking out against injustice, supporting marginalized voices, and treating others with respect. You don't need a specific job title or college degree to be a human rights defender; it starts with compassion and courage in our daily lives. Every action—big or small—helps protect and promote the dignity, equality, and freedom of others, whether by supporting racial minorities, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, or advocating for healthcare access for all.

In a world marked by violence and division, recognizing human rights defenders is crucial. These individuals often work quietly on the front lines of justice, defending these essential rights. By highlighting their contributions, we honor their bravery and inspire others to act. Everyday roles, such as teachers promoting inclusivity, social workers aiding vulnerable populations, and healthcare professionals advocating for equity, play a vital part in advancing human rights, even if their efforts go largely unrecognized.

We welcome our community to nominate a Human Rights Defender they know, including themselves! The nomination form can be found on our website

We'll be accepting nominations from now until December 10th, culminating on International Human Rights Day. Join us in recognizing the everyday defenders of human rights and spreading awareness about the importance of standing up for justice and equality. Together, we can make a difference!


Research Roundup

November and the fall season can be an incredibly busy time for Mindbridge and the Research and Evaluation Department (RED) team.  Accomplishments for the RED team have included balancing a number of internal and external collaborations, seeking new directives, and organizing in the times post-election. This month, we’re proud to spotlight out efforts to engage the general public and uplift our past, present, and future work in the Healing Racial Trauma Initiative (HRTI). 

Mindbridge’s HRTI was formed to address the need for mental health and community support among Black, Indigenous, and all other People of Color living in Maine. Data across many research areas show that centering the voices of people affected by trauma and building up community are key factors to foster resilience and improve mental health and positive outcomes, especially groups that have been historically marginalized within the United States.  

In January, Mindbridge launched the HRTI Resource Library. This library, available online, allows individuals to access a number of state and nation-wide points of support. Additionally, Mindbridge has been joined by our team member, Christina, who is in the process of assisting the RED team as we renew connections within Maine and seek to launch the extension and follow-up to our 2023 report. 

In 2023, we were proud to not only provide weekly healing circles to support individuals affected by racial trauma, but provide exciting new data that mapped the central focus of topics related to unaddressed wounds and what discussion assisted in their amelioration. This work has been collected for publication, and we anticipate submission at the end of this winter. Moreover, we will continue to build off of this strong foundation to provide ongoing support to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) populations in Maine as we move into 2025, extending our work by increasing participant number and integrating positive psychology.


Did You Know?

High Fluid Intelligence Boosts Ability to
Accept Corrected Misinformation

From PsyPost, Published 30 October 2024


A recent article in the Cognitive Research: Principles & Implications journal discusses how some individuals have an easier time accepting corrections when initially presented with misinformation. Results indicated that those with higher fluid intelligence were more likely to accept new information and adjust their attitudes after being presented with corrected misinformation. 

Misinformation (or disinformation), in particular, have had lasting impacts in all spheres of life worldwide, ranging in a variety of topics from the environment, politics, social issues, to healthcare. In the United States, misinformation has been cited as one of the multiple sources of increasing political polarization as well. One of the emerging strategies of combatting this online is through fact-checking and correcting misleading information on social media. However, these strategies may not work well for everyone, and not everyone adjusts their beliefs after being presented with updated information.  

This was the primary research question of the researchers: do personal characteristics like fluid intelligence or the need for cognition predict who is more likely to update their attitudes in response to corrected information? 

What is fluid intelligence?

Fluid intelligence is one’s ability to flexibly think and reason about new situations or problems, without prior experience to work from. It can include identifying patterns, using logic, and critical thinking. Some examples could include solving a complex puzzle without instructions, or even creative tasks such as painting or learning to play an instrument without any prior training. 

What was the study methodology? 

In the present study, researchers conducted two online studies (N= 355; 725) to test if personal factors like fluid intelligence or the need for cognition (desire to engage in deep thinking) impacts people’s ability to adjust their attitudes after being presented with corrected misinformation.

Participants were mostly university students, and were divided into experimental and control groups. Both groups read a news article on the (relatively neutral) topic of trust-based working hours, but only the experimental condition was presented with misinformation on the topic. The misinformation stated that trust-based working hours had negative effects on company’s who engaged in it, but these participants received an independently fact-checked correction message after that debunked the initial claim. 

The researchers measured the following: 

  • participants’ attitudes about trust-based working hours before and after the presented correction

  • fluid reasoning, which included a task on deductive logical reasoning

  • Need for cognition, which included survey items on preferences toward intellectually-engaging tasks


The second presented study operated under similar conditions, but had a larger and more diverse sample (N=725). 

Both studies indicated that fluid intelligence was positively correlated with the willingness to adjust attitudes following a factual correction to misinformation. As individual fluid intelligence markers increased within the sample, the more effective they were at changing their thinking patterns when presented with new information. 

A common strategy for countering misinformation is correcting and fact-checking false information. It has repeatedly been shown that a correction message diminishes but not always fully eliminates the effects of previously presented misinformation. We demonstrated that people with higher fluid intelligence, that is, people with a better general reasoning ability, are better at adjusting their attitude in response to the correction of misinformation
— Fabian Hutmacher, researcher, University of Würzburg

What next?

More research is needed to learn more on if this effect depends on the type of misinformation presented (and subsequently corrected). For example, changing deep-held political beliefs may be more resistant to corrections even in individuals with high fluid intelligence. Future research can also pilot test what strategies beyond debunking or fact-checking can effectively reach a wider variety of people presented with misinformation online. 

The original article: Hutmacher, F., Appel, M., Schätzlein, B. et al. Fluid intelligence but not need for cognition is associated with attitude change in response to the correction of misinformation. Cognitive Research 9, 64 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41235-024-00595-1


Happenings & Events

The Mindbridge Institute is so excited to announce their upcoming 50-min class offerings!
Visit mindbridgecenter.org/courses to see the full list!

In Other News

Additionally, Maine Boys to Men Training Institute is also running another multi-day training series in their Reducing Sexism and Violence Program in Portland, Maine on December 5th and 6th. To learn more, visit their website

Finally, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference, hosted by Inclusion Maine, is currently open for registration! The conference takes place in Portland (ME) from February 11th-13th, 2025. Register here to learn more.  

Upcoming Days of Observance:

November: Native American Heritage Month

The month of November is Native American Heritage Month. The 2024 theme is “Affirming Native Voices: Visibility, Leadership, Service.” In the United States, there are over 570 federally recognized tribes, each with their own unique history and culture. 

11/25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a widespread issue worldwide, including significant underreporting due to stigma and the normalization of violence. The psychological effects of violence are profound, but together, we can support recovery and change societal norms surrounding violence and reporting. 

11/28  Thanksgiving/National Day of Mourning

The fourth Thursday of November is often celebrated as a time of gratitude, community, and shared meals. For some, Thanksgiving Day is also a reminder of the profound impacts colonization has had on Indigenous tribes - from genocide, loss of land, and cultural erasure. The United American Indians of New England (UAINE) remarks: “It is a day of remembrance and spiritual connection, as well as a protest against the racism and oppression that Indigenous people continue to experience worldwide”. 

11/29  International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

The UN marks the 29th of November as International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in recognition of the partition of Palestine in 1947. Last year’s day of solidarity commenced with the unveiling of the exhibit: “Palestine – a Land with a People” in New York. This exhibit showcased a variety of artwork of and about Palestinians before, during, and after the violence of the Nakba. It is also vital to recognize the current humanitarian crisis currently happening in Gaza, whose ministry of health have noted more than 40 thousand civilian deaths due to the Israeli military since October 2023. In that statistics are nearly 17,000 children.

11/30 Small Business Saturday

Saturday November 30th is known as Small Business Saturday, a day to recognize and uplift the community-based shops and businesses. Since its official recognition by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in 2011, this day marks the busiest season for consumers and shopping. As a Maine-based non-profit organization, we encourage our readers to engage with their local community and small businesses not only during small business saturday, but year round. 

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Navigating Difficult Topics Around the Holidays, from the Perspective of Psychology and Neuroscience

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Understanding the Psychology of Voter Apathy & the Importance of Voting