GMO pictures may reinforce existing views, deepening the divide of attitudes towards them
Why it matters: The study indicates that current visual communication strategies may hinder informed public discourse on GMOs.
- An experimental study published in the Journal of Science Communication (JCOM) investigates how different types of images influence public perception of GMOs.
- Images are found to primarily reinforce emotional reactions to GMOs, rather than enhancing scientific comprehension.
- The study suggests that visual communication about GMOs may inadvertently deepen the existing divide in public attitudes towards them.
A new study reveals that images of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) often reinforce pre-existing emotional responses rather than fostering scientific understanding, potentially deepening the divide in public attitudes. This suggests that visual communication, while powerful, may inadvertently contribute to polarization on complex scientific topics.
