The body as misinformation – examining the role of bodily information in the formation of false health beliefs

Abstract

Introduction. There is scant research into the convergence of embodied information and misinformation. This paper aims to address that gap by examining the intersection of information embodiment and health misinformation.

Method. Literature from LIS and adjacent disciplines is synthesised to develop the concept of embodied health misinformation, with particular attention paid to how cognitive biases can influence the formation of false health beliefs based on bodily signals.

Analysis. Although bodily information offers valuable insights into health, the body can act as a site of misinformation generation and substantiation due to breakdowns in interoceptive accuracy and cognitive biases in information processing that apply to bodily information. 

Results. Embodied health misinformation is identified as a significant avenue of future study in LIS because of its potential to illuminate the intractability and deeper epistemic conflicts that underpin health misinformation.

Conclusion. A deeper understanding of how misinformation is born and lives within the body can facilitate more sensitive study and evaluation of health misinformation.