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Tactic Page

Causal Leap

Evergreen educational page explaining this manipulation method and how to spot it.

Definition

Correlation, sequence, or coincidence is presented as proof of causation.

Why This Is Misleading

It collapses complex explanations into simple blame narratives that feel intuitive but unsupported.

How It Works

Humans seek coherent cause-and-effect stories. The tactic exploits that preference while skipping evidentiary steps.

How To Recognize It

  • Cause asserted without mechanism or counterevidence review.
  • Complex outcomes attributed to a single event or actor.
  • No discussion of confounders or alternative causes.
  • Language like "this proves" where evidence only suggests association.

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