Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
How can two people can watch the exact same video clip and walk away with two completely different stories? From videos of protests to police body camera footage, we don’t just see with our eyes—we see with our identities. It’s called Cultural Cognition, and it explains why seemingly objective evidence can end up driving us further apart. Our brains 'fill in the blanks' to match our group’s beliefs and values. This means the most important factor in what we see isn't just the footage—it’s the lens of the person watching it.
#Psychology #MediaLiteracy #CulturalCognition #SocialScience #Short
Kahan, Dan M., et al. (2012). "They Saw a Protest”: Cognitive Illiberalism and the Speech-Conduct Distinction." Stanford Law Review. stanfordlawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/05/Kahan-64-Stan-L-Rev-851.pdf
Sommers, Roseanna. (2016). "Will Putting Cameras on Police Reduce Polarization?" The Yale Law Journal. yalelawjournal.org/note/will-putting-cameras-on-police-reduce-polarization
How can two people can watch the exact same video clip and walk away with two completely different stories? From videos of protests to police body camera footage, we don’t just see with our eyes—we see with our identities. It’s called Cultural Cognition, and it explains why seemingly objective evidence can end up driving us further apart. Our brains 'fill in the blanks' to match our group’s beliefs and values. This means the most important factor in what we see isn't just the footage—it’s the lens of the person watching it.
#Psychology #MediaLiteracy #CulturalCognition #SocialScience #Short
Kahan, Dan M., et al. (2012). "They Saw a Protest”: Cognitive Illiberalism and the Speech-Conduct Distinction." Stanford Law Review. stanfordlawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2012/05/Kahan-64-Stan-L-Rev-851.pdf
Sommers, Roseanna. (2016). "Will Putting Cameras on Police Reduce Polarization?" The Yale Law Journal. yalelawjournal.org/note/will-putting-cameras-on-police-reduce-polarization
