Respondents who believed there was some kind of predetermined pattern to the coin toss sequences were more likely to believe conspiracy theories.
The researchers tried a few other methods of measuring illusory pattern perception — such as having participants try to detect patterns in abstract modern art paintings — and found similar results. Another study found this trait is also associated with people who ascribe profundity to randomly generated nonsense statements. Once again, these findings jibe with what you may presuppose about conspiracy theorists: Making connections between unrelated events or symbols is a key marker of many conspiracy theories.
In practice, that might look something like the post below, which was shared in a QAnon Telegram group. It makes many logical leaps to try to indicate that the Ever Given, the ship that was caught in the Suez Canal and which many Q followers believe was transporting trafficked children, is somehow connected to a March Madness tweet from Mike Pompeo, the transit of a Navy warship and a Q post from We see rabbits in the clouds and faces in household appliances.
Illusory pattern perception is just a heightened version of this universal phenomenon. What place are you in? There are two likely answers to this question, an intuitive one first place , and an analytical one second place. Only the latter is correct, though. Questions like this are often used to measure whether someone naturally tends to think analytically, to take time to reflect on the information at hand before responding, or if they tend to go with their gut instinct.
Each of these tasks captures just a drop of the cognitive stew that can make someone more vulnerable to believing in conspiracy theories. We all have a little conspiracy theorist in us. Setting up the chessboard.
Cognitive quirks only go so far in explaining why people believe conspiracy theories. Conspiracy Theory Addiction Conspiracy theories are a popular topic of conversation, and research shows that almost half of Americans believe in at least one conspiracy.
Studies have also shown that conspiratorial thinking may increase anxiety, distrust, and feelings of losing control. These feelings can often lead to a cycle that results in conspiracy theory addiction.
Start the road to recovery. Get a Call. Questions about treatment? Call now for: Access to top treatment centers Caring, supportive guidance Financial assistance options Addiction Center is not affiliated with any insurance. How Do I Prepare for Rehab? How Long Does Detox Take? How Much Does Treatment Cost? What Is Inpatient Drug Rehab? Should I Go Back to Rehab?
Get professional rehab and addiction education from a qualified doctor today! What Is Conspiracy Theory Addiction? Looking for a place to start? Reach out to a treatment provider for free today.
Get Help During COVID With just 30 days at a rehab center, you can get clean and sober, start therapy, join a support group, and learn ways to manage your cravings. Cherry, K. Why People Believe in Conspiracy Theories. New Voices: Are conspiracy theories just harmless fun? Many of the conspiracy theories circulating today seek to explain the pandemic itself. A study published in October by van der Linden and colleagues presented residents from the U. While a large majority accurately identified misinformation, some people readily accepted the falsehoods.
That includes between 22 and 37 percent of respondents depending on the country who believed the claim that the coronavirus was engineered in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. Some also decried accurate information as fake, such as the fact that diabetes increases your risk of severe illness from COVID The same participants who believed misinformation were also less likely to report that they complied with COVID health guidance, such as wearing masks, and were more likely to express vaccine hesitancy.
Experts also say that people are more likely to believe misinformation that they are exposed to over and over again—such as allegations of election fraud or claims that COVID is no more dangerous than the flu. This urge is particularly strong when narcissistic people fail, or members of their group fail. One perceived enemy that President Trump and his supporters have frequently blamed is the media.
People may also defend the viewpoints of groups they belong to on an even more instinctual level. Humans evolved in groups that competed with one another, sculpting our minds to be wary of outsiders and loyal to our factions, Ditto says. While groups tend to share common beliefs, those beliefs are often sculpted by a handful of influential people.
An October poll of more than 2, Americans conducted by Joseph Uscinski , an associate professor of political science at the University of Miami, found that what people believed was closely aligned with what they had been told by their political leaders.
For example, 56 percent of people who identified as Democrats agreed that there was a conspiracy to stop the U. Post Office from processing mail-in ballots, compared to only 31 percent of Republicans. She points to QAnon, a conspiracy theory that proliferated online and falsely alleges a powerful group of Satanic pedophiles is plotting against President Trump.
First you search for imaginary enemies, then you prepare yourself for a fight. The final stage is usually tragic: You hurt innocent people. Once people believe something, it can be almost impossible to dissuade them. When misinformation is covered in the news—often in an attempt to disprove falsehoods—the coverage can inadvertently aid in creating familiarity with incorrect beliefs. Educated people are also susceptible if a conspiracy theory fits with their pre-existing world view.
The theories are also endorsed across the ideological spectrum. They are literally left, right and centre. Why do so many people believe?
One reason, say psychologists, is that it is perfectly reasonable, because conspiracies sometimes happen. Conspiracy theories also reflect how we intuitively understand the world and events in it. The human brain did not evolve to process complex information about global politics, economics or science. It evolved to survive on the African savannah where threats and hostile intentions were a daily reality.
0コメント