Decoding Our Obsession with Conspiracy Theories

[BradStevens]

More on the minds of conspiracy theorists:

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories

A combination of cognitive biases, social influences, emotional maturity, and family dynamics can contribute to an individual's belief in conspiracy theories.

www.psychologytoday.com

People Drawn to Conspiracy Theories Share a Cluster of Psychological Features

Baseless theories threaten our safety and democracy. It turns out that specific emotions make people prone to such thinking

www.scientificamerican.com

If this topic interests you, Shermer is knowledgeable on this subject:

https://michaelshermer.com/conspiracy-why-rational-believe-irrational/

 

[Aloha Hoosier]

If this topic interests you, Shermer is knowledgeable on this subject:

https://michaelshermer.com/conspiracy-why-rational-believe-irrational/

Thanks. This excerpt of the description is dead on:

But the conspiracy theories that have gained popularity of late are markedly different from those in the past, in that they require little to no proof for their adherents. Mere assertion of a conspiracy claim suffices—“fake news” or “rigged” or “people are saying” is all the evidence many people need to be convinced of their veracity.

 

[CO. Hoosier]

More on the minds of conspiracy theorists:

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories

A combination of cognitive biases, social influences, emotional maturity, and family dynamics can contribute to an individual's belief in conspiracy theories.

www.psychologytoday.com

People Drawn to Conspiracy Theories Share a Cluster of Psychological Features

Baseless theories threaten our safety and democracy. It turns out that specific emotions make people prone to such thinking

www.scientificamerican.com

The two links indeed explain how conspiracy theories begin. But both show me conspiracy theories are not necessarily unjustified nor are they necessarily wrong.

The first link includes this as a basis for conspiracy theories.

• In an environment with high mistrust in authorities, conspiracy theories can flourish.

On this 5 year anniversary of COVID lockdowns, the lies and deception by those in authority pushed on all of us are clear. The COVID. Experience will in and of itself foster conspiracy theories for years, some will be accurate, but others will be bullshit. Jennifer Sey writes about it here

The 5 year anniversary of lockdowns is here and I'm angry

Despite being right about everything, those of us who pushed back against lockdowns from the outset are not redeemed. Many of us remained "cancelled."

jennifersey.substack.com

I stoped the second link the author said this


“Stephan Lewandowsky was deep in denial. Nearly 10 years ago the cognitive scientist threw himself into a study of why some people refuse to accept the overwhelming evidence that the planet is warming and humans are responsible.”

I don’t intend to start a debate about climate change, but I will state that climate alarmists are themselves largely conspiracy theorists and fit the mold of the first point in link number 1

• Conspiracy theories thrive on cognitive biases, mental shortcuts that allow us to make sense of the world.

In other words, climate alarmists and conspiracy theorists are both lazy thinkers.

Many people claim they are not conspiracy theorists because they are “data driven” or “evidence based” thinkers. They are fooling themselves. Data and evidence can easily be cherry-picked or manipulated to support an opinion.

The only reliable way to avoid conspiratorial thinking is to have a thorough understanding of cause and effect and relavance. And use both to support skepticism.

 

[Bub_rub]

That's the title of an article by a man who has investigated many conspiracy theories and found most are false and a handful are real. The conspiracy theorists here should read it - though, of course, they believe what they believe is real so they're not a conspiracy theorist. So maybe everyone should read it and get some idea how conspiracy theories are formed and spread and maybe, just maybe, recognize that some of what they believe may not actually be true:

"Trust No One"

Decoding Our Obsession with Conspiracy Theories

www.justthefacts.media

Robert Anton Wilson is admittedly out there but he wrote for Playboy back when that was a big deal. His take on conspiracy theories is great.