The psychology of conspiracy theories
The psychology of conspiracy theories
Salon’s Sander Van Der Linden published an interesting article, copied from Scientific American, about new studies conducted about the psychology of conspiracy theories.
One interesting finding is that conspiracists often believe in contradictory theories:
For example, the conspiracy-belief that Osama Bin Laden is still alive was positively correlated with the conspiracy-belief that he was already dead before the military raid took place. This makes little sense, logically: Bin Laden cannot be both dead and alive at the same time. An important conclusion that the authors draw from their analysis is that people don’t tend to believe in a conspiracy theory because of the specifics, but rather because of higher-order beliefs that support conspiracy-like thinking more generally. A popular example of such higher-order beliefs is a severe “distrust of authority.” The authors go on to suggest that conspiracism is therefore not just about belief in an individual theory, but rather an ideological lens through which we view the world.
A good case in point is Alex Jones’s recent commentary on the Boston bombings. Jones, (one of the country’s preeminent conspiracy theorists) reminded his audience that two of the hijacked planes on 9/11 flew out of Boston (relating one conspiracy theory to another) and moreover, that the Boston Marathon bombing could be a response to the sudden drop in the price of gold or part of a secret government plot to expand the Transportation Security Administration’s reach to sporting events. Others have pointed their fingers to a ‘mystery man’ spotted on a nearby roof shortly after the explosions. While it remains unsure whether or not credence is given to only some or all of these (note: contradicting) conspiracy theories, there clearly is a larger underlying preference to support conspiracy-type explanations more generally. Interestingly, belief in conspiracy theories has recently been linked to the rejection of science.
Conspiracists also tend to refuse to believe scientific facts:
In a paper published in Psychological Science, Stephen Lewandowsky and colleagues investigated the relation between acceptance of science and conspiracist thinking patterns. While the authors’ survey was not representative of the general population, results suggest that (controlling for other important factors) belief in multiple conspiracy theories significantly predicted the rejection of important scientific conclusions, such as climate science or the fact that smoking causes lung cancer. Yet, rejection of scientific principles is not the only possible consequence of widespread belief in conspiracy theories. Another recent study indicates that receiving positive information about or even being merely exposed to conspiracy theories can lead people to become disengaged from important political and societal topics. For example, in their study, Daniel Jolley and Karen Douglas clearly show that participants who received information that supported the idea that global warming is a hoax were less willing to engage politically and also less willing to implement individual behavioral changes such as reducing their carbon footprint.
The psychology of conspiracy theories
Salon’s Sander Van Der Linden published an interesting article, copied from Scientific American, about new studies conducted about the psychology of conspiracy theories.
One interesting finding is that conspiracists often believe in contradictory theories:
For example, the conspiracy-belief that Osama Bin Laden is still alive was positively correlated with the conspiracy-belief that he was already dead before the military raid took place. This makes little sense, logically: Bin Laden cannot be both dead and alive at the same time. An important conclusion that the authors draw from their analysis is that people don’t tend to believe in a conspiracy theory because of the specifics, but rather because of higher-order beliefs that support conspiracy-like thinking more generally. A popular example of such higher-order beliefs is a severe “distrust of authority.” The authors go on to suggest that conspiracism is therefore not just about belief in an individual theory, but rather an ideological lens through which we view the world.
A good case in point is Alex Jones’s recent commentary on the Boston bombings. Jones, (one of the country’s preeminent conspiracy theorists) reminded his audience that two of the hijacked planes on 9/11 flew out of Boston (relating one conspiracy theory to another) and moreover, that the Boston Marathon bombing could be a response to the sudden drop in the price of gold or part of a secret government plot to expand the Transportation Security Administration’s reach to sporting events. Others have pointed their fingers to a ‘mystery man’ spotted on a nearby roof shortly after the explosions. While it remains unsure whether or not credence is given to only some or all of these (note: contradicting) conspiracy theories, there clearly is a larger underlying preference to support conspiracy-type explanations more generally. Interestingly, belief in conspiracy theories has recently been linked to the rejection of science.
Conspiracists also tend to refuse to believe scientific facts:
In a paper published in Psychological Science, Stephen Lewandowsky and colleagues investigated the relation between acceptance of science and conspiracist thinking patterns. While the authors’ survey was not representative of the general population, results suggest that (controlling for other important factors) belief in multiple conspiracy theories significantly predicted the rejection of important scientific conclusions, such as climate science or the fact that smoking causes lung cancer. Yet, rejection of scientific principles is not the only possible consequence of widespread belief in conspiracy theories. Another recent study indicates that receiving positive information about or even being merely exposed to conspiracy theories can lead people to become disengaged from important political and societal topics. For example, in their study, Daniel Jolley and Karen Douglas clearly show that participants who received information that supported the idea that global warming is a hoax were less willing to engage politically and also less willing to implement individual behavioral changes such as reducing their carbon footprint.
If Super Mario characters were hipsters.
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If Super Mario characters were hipsters.
Minbox
Minbox is a lightweight menubar app that lets you send files to the right people faster than Dropbox.
It was made by the guys behind Penzu, a secret journal.
You should check it out.
Minbox
Minbox is a lightweight menubar app that lets you send files to the right people faster than Dropbox.
It was made by the guys behind Penzu, a secret journal.
You should check it out.
Google Glass app lets you simply wink to take a photo
Google Glass app lets you simply wink to take a photo
And so it begins.
How Muslims see Women’s rights around the world. A survey conducted by Pew, courtesy of The Atlantic.
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How Muslims see Women’s rights around the world. A survey conducted by Pew, courtesy of The Atlantic.
On Brain Computer Interfaces
Nick Bilton:
In a couple of years, we could be turning on the lights at home just by thinking about it, or sending an e-mail from our smartphone without even pulling the device from our pocket. Farther into the future, your robot assistant will appear by your side with a glass of lemonade simply because it knows you are thirsty.
Google Glass is only the beginning.
On Brain Computer Interfaces
bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/2…
Nick Bilton:
In a couple of years, we could be turning on the lights at home just by thinking about it, or sending an e-mail from our smartphone without even pulling the device from our pocket. Farther into the future, your robot assistant will appear by your side with a glass of lemonade simply because it knows you are thirsty.
Google Glass is only the beginning.
For years, psychologists thought we instantly label each other by ethnicity. But one intriguing study proposes this is far from inevitable, with obvious implications for tackling racism.
Interesting.
For years, psychologists thought we instantly label each other by ethnicity. But one intriguing study proposes this is far from inevitable, with obvious implications for tackling racism.
Interesting.
Mars One
www.theatlantic.com/technolog…
Megan Garber for The Atlantic:
If you are at least 18 years of age and curious and capable and resourceful, with a capacity for self-reflection, an ability to trust other people, and a deep sense of purpose, then you can to go to Mars. Maybe. The Mars One project, which is planning to send a group of people to colonize the Red Planet, has officially opened its applications process to public voting. If you are one of the people ultimately selected for the program, if all goes according to plan, you will depart Earth in 2023 to follow in the epic footsteps of Magellan and Gagarin and Armstrong, staking a claim for humanity’s extension into a new and unknown world.
The only catch? You will not be coming back.
Amazing.
Quattrone has been sitting quietly at the end of the table. He clears his throat and speaks:
“Buy Intel.”
Jean-Louis Gassée offers 7 reasons for Apple to buy Intel in what is not such a far-fetched idea.
Quattrone has been sitting quietly at the end of the table. He clears his throat and speaks:
“Buy Intel.”
Jean-Louis Gassée offers 7 reasons for Apple to buy Intel in what is not such a far-fetched idea.
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Behind the scenes photos of Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back.
Update: here’s the source link.
An interesting Japanese hairstyle: Ripe Tomato.
