Expressive responding

Expressive responding is the expression of opinions in a survey that opposes or exaggerates actual beliefs in such a way as to provide psychological comfort for the responder. Expressive responding can be found in groups across the political spectrum.^[1]

There is evidence that expressive responding is done more for internal psychological gain than as a response to true belief in misinformation.^[2]

Expressive responding is more common in those who respond to questions about rumours.^[3]