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https://theconversation.com/how-to-talk-to-someone-about-conspiracy-theories-in-five-simple-steps-197819>
"People’s first instinct when engaging with conspiracy believers is often to
try and debunk their ideas with factual and authoritative information.
However, direct confrontation rarely works. Conspiracy theories are persuasive,
often playing on people’s feelings and sense of identity. Even if debunking
conspiracy theories was effective, it’s difficult to keep up with how quickly
they appear and how widespread they travel. A study showed that during 2015 and
2016, the number of propagators of Zika virus conspiracy theories on Twitter
twice outnumbered debunkers.
But research into how to talk with conspiracy believers is beginning to show
returns. We’ve developed some conversation prompts to use with people you know
or only meet in passing. But first, if you want to address someone’s conspiracy
beliefs you need to consider the root causes.
People are attracted to conspiracy theories in an attempt to satisfy three
psychological needs. They want more certainty, to feel in control, and maintain
a positive image of their self and group. During times of crisis, such as the
COVID pandemic, these needs are more frustrated and people’s desire to make
sense of the world becomes more urgent.
Yet, conspiracy beliefs do not seem to satisfy these psychological needs and
may actually make things worse for people, increasing their uncertainty and
anxiety. Conspiracy theories don’t just affect people’s state of mind, they can
also impact behaviour.
For instance, people who believe in anti-vaccine conspiracy theories - such as
the idea that pharmaceutical companies cover up the dangers of vaccines -
reported more negative attitudes towards vaccinations and an increased feeling
of powerlessness one month later. This is what makes it so important to reach
out to conspiracy believers."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
