misconception

Misconception refers to a view or belief that is incorrect or based on faulty reasoning, misinterpretation, or incomplete information. Misconceptions can occur in everyday knowledge, science, history, and social beliefs. They are not simply mistakes in memory but often reflect underlying mental models that differ from established explanations. The term combines mis- with conception, from Latin roots, and has been used since Middle English to denote mistaken understanding.

Causes include cognitive biases (such as confirmation bias), gaps in foundational knowledge, ambiguous language, and the influence of cultural narratives or media. Misconceptions are often resistant to correction because new information must replace or reorganize an established mental model.

Common misconceptions include that the Great Wall is visible from the Moon, that humans only use 10% of their brains, or that bats are blind. These examples illustrate how intuitive but incorrect ideas can persist despite evidence.

They can be factual (misunderstanding a fact) or conceptual (misunderstanding how a process works). Misconceptions are typically addressed through explicit refutation paired with coherent alternative explanations, opportunities for experiential learning, and instructional strategies that align with learners’ prior knowledge to build accurate mental models.