The psychology of conspiracy theories
There's a conspiracy theory for just about everything, from 9/11 to the Moon landing. It's not just the paranoid fringe who believe in them, either. How do we decide what's reasonable and what's ridiculous? Lynne Malcolm andOlivia Willis examine the psychology of conspiracy thinking.
September 11 was an inside job. Princess Diana was murdered in a government plot. The Apollo 11 Moon landing was faked. The New World Order is taking over.
Conspiracy theories are rife, and entertaining them is in our nature. But how do we decide what's crazy and what's a sign of something sinister actually taking place?
Sometimes our brain is so good at finding patterns, it finds patterns that aren't even really there.
ROB BROTHERTON
'Research from within psychology has really taken off looking at why people believe conspiracy theories. Within the last five or 10 years, there have been more and more psychologists turning their attention to this,' says Rob Brotherton, an academic psychologist and the author ofSuspicious Minds.
He believes what was once the pastime of 'intelligent outsiders' is now commonplace. Conspiracies are entertained by a broad swath of the population.
'The stereotype is that conspiracy theorists are crazy, that they are paranoid and that they shouldn't be listened to. I don't think that's reasonable … and I don't think it's backed up by the research.'
In fact, psychological research suggests that we're all conspiracy theorists, thanks in a large part to our cognitive makeup. Brotherton says a series of innate cognitive biases are 'wired into our heads', dictating how conspiracy-minded we are.
'These traits of mind that we have, these shortcuts that our brains take ... they can lead us to suspect a conspiracy has occurred, whether it has or not.'
According to the psychologist, it all begins with our instinctive desire for control.
'This is something that we all suffer from, not just in the context of conspiracy theories, but we all want to feel like we have control over our circumstances and that we understand what's going on around us.
'When that feeling of control is stripped away for whatever reason ... then we look for other sources of control, what is called compensatory control.
'Conspiracy theories are one manifestation of this need ... we think that if we don't have control that at least somebody does, even if they don't have our best interests at heart.'
Read more: What are the odds the Moon landing was faked?
Brotherton also points to our hardwired ability to recognise patterns.
'Finding patterns is an ability that we rely on every moment of the day really,' he says. 'It's one of our brain's most remarkable abilities and it underlies all kinds of human endeavours.
'But sometimes our brain is so good at finding patterns that it finds patterns that aren't even really there. It can find patterns in randomness. Conspiracy theories might be an example of this, taking these events that happen in the world, this chaotic information, and finding the dots that seem to be connected.'
Then there's our 'intentionality bias' our brains' tendency to assume that any ambiguous event was intended, that somebody meant it to happen.
'There's research on this bias from developmental literature,' says Brotherton. 'It's been found that if you ask a child why did somebody sneeze or why did they trip over ... young children below the age of about four think that people meant to do that.
'Of course, as we get older, we learn that people don't always mean to sneeze or fall over, and so we become able to apply our knowledge and to override that bias.
'But what the research shows is that the bias is still there, it's still on the back of our mind and our brain is telling us, whispering in the back of our head that everything about this was intended. Somebody meant this to happen.'
Next on the list is 'proportionality bias', our brains' assumption that the causes of events must be as big or as important as the events themselves. JFK assassination conspiracy theories are a perfect example of this—many people find it hard to believe that the president of the United States was assassinated by a lone madman. Instead, they look to the KGB or the mafia—explanations that fit the scale of the crime.
More: A very real imaginary illness
Then there's good old-fashioned confirmation bias: the fact that we tend to surround ourselves with people and information that confirm what we already believe.
'If you scrutinise your Twitter followers or your Facebook friends or the newspapers and magazines that you read ... you'll probably find that a lot of it is consistent with what you already believe, and you don't really read much stuff that goes against what you believe,' says Brotherton.
'When it comes to conspiracy theories, it becomes very possible to surround yourself with just like-minded people who believe what you believe.'
According to Brotherton, our pre-existing ideologies play a major role in how we interpret events and information. Rather than processing facts in a logical or reasoned way (as we like to believe we do), we sub-consciously filter information to suit a narrative we've already created.
'People to the left and the right of the political spectrum, they both have conspiracy theories but they point them in different directions,' says Brotherton.
'For example, the 9/11 conspiracy theories are more widely believed among people on the left, among liberals, whereas, for example, the conspiracy theories about President Obama not having been born in the United States or being a secret Muslim ... they were much more widely believed on the right.'
Both sides, he says, are as conspiratorial as one another; they simply use information differently.
Because these thinking patterns are hardwired, it's difficult to change our own minds, let alone anybody else's.
Given our innate susceptibility to conspiracy theories, Brotherton believes awareness of our own biases is the best we can hope for.
'Everybody suffers from these biases ... so a good first step would be to realise that, to accept that, and then to look at our beliefs and try and critically evaluate them.
'Why do we believe the things we believe? Is it based on the good, objective, fair survey of the best available evidence, or might we be falling into some of the traps laid down by these biases?'
I'm too much of a conspiracy theorist to not believe this isn't propaganda designed to make conspiracy theorists question their beliefs! Help!......
lol......
For me, the most successful conspiracy (theory?) was the way the words "conspiracy theory" were maligned and demonized sufficiently enough to convince the majority of people who just want to get on with their personal lives (in the blue pill matrix) that anything associated with the term "conspiracy theory" was and is to be thoroughly disregarded, that that would be the responsible and rational thing to do as a good citizen of these United States.
Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
Oh say can you see,
God Bless America (land of the free?),
Support the troops, keep America safe!
Moment of silence for our fallen warriors (prior to a sporting event),
Blah Blah Blah.
To get people to believe in all that manipulative patriotic BS while at the same time getting them to thoroughly ignore the visually obvious evidence of the way WTC towers 1&2 and building 7 fell, global collapse at free fall speed into their footprints, the towers catapulting ton chunks of steel 600 feet into adjacent WTC buildings (that remained standing by the way after extremely severe damage), well that is the real truth of how well a well-organized and orchestrated conspiracy works, and the painfully obvious reason that Jesus referred to his people as "sheep".
Given the dominate propensity for people to ignore their "lying eyes" in favor of the State's offering of Official sanctioned BS rhetoric , explanations and cover stories, I am compelled to wonder what the next grand false flag "conspiracy theory" will be???
Yes and no. Words... I think that "conspiracy" is a poor choice of word or phrase to describe what we are getting into here. "Cover up", disinformation and misinformation might suit better. Otherwise, the above article does make complete sense from its perspective.
It's that whole elitist thing. Privilege and class... ugh. Can't WAIT for it to be over...
But they don't understand what it is they're trying to hide. CAN'T hide it, in fact. But it is up to each individual to seek or pursue answers for themselves. The masses are definitely not worthy of full disclosure. Already tearing themselves and the world apart as it is. Too much FEAR...
And I also have a notion that all this bs isn't really about resources or riches but about POWER. Places of power and deeply ingrained belief systems, which are powerful. So, it's mainly about undermining THOSE. And gaining control of those places under the subtext of politics or religion or greed. That's just scratching the surface... too bad for those silly fools that each and every individual can become their own center and increase their own power without any of that anymore. Thanks to the www! And the media... you can't kill an IDEA!
If it is?... then we're all in it together. Keeping ourselves in the dark because we choose to fear change. Missing the bigger picture, which is that we are going through tremendous and accelerated change. The rug is being pulled out from under. All of this bs is "necessary" to effect and force us beyond this threshold or plateau to the next level.
So, the "conspiracy" is galactic and even cosmic in its magnitude. Whether it's aliens or intradimensional beings feeding off of our disempowerment and negative feedback, or fallen angels waging an eternal war, it all comes down to individual freedom and responsibility. We each have to do our own time...
Then it doesn't matter who or whom the actual puppets and puppet masters are, the strings become inconsequential. Unless they are based on harmony and balance.
Breathe...
Ok guys, I don't really think this article is about conspiracies....it is about how our minds work and what they do to it....ie to justify what we feel, see and don't understand....its about what we do to regain a sense of control.....if we can't understand something we are lost, so we have our hardwired mechanisms to keep us safe and feel like we have things under control....
How many people here have wondered why they cant "wake" others up....
Because these thinking patterns are hardwired, it's difficult to change our own minds, let alone anybody else's.
most of us here have seen that....
And how about this one,
Rather than processing facts in a logical or reasoned way (as we like to believe we do), we sub-consciously filter information to suit a narrative we've already created.
Is it possible either of you just dd that?...I think you both did, how many times have you written somethng so similar Chris B, any chance it has become a prewired response?..and don't get me wrong, I don't disagree with what you said but it has little to do with what the article is about....again this article is about how our minds work....and essentially how we can blind ourselves and why we do it....
Yes manipulating the masses is about power, nothing else, they have more money than they can spend, it is about us having nothing.....but why do you beleve it will change?...there is no evidence to support that....it has always been this way...do you think inside it makes you feel better to believe one day it will change?....
The whole 2012 thing changed me.....what a load of crap it was.....what made me believe such rubbish in the first place, why did I need to and what did I get from it......I think this article sheds light on such things.....
I refer to the teachings both ancient and contemporary. Much BIGGER than these localized dramas... Tibet, Egypt, etc knew about many other states of existence. Beyond death. So, I'm talking about the Yugas and eons of shifting time... ages. You can't squeeze blood from a rock, but you can fit a camel through the eye of a needle. If you hit it at the right angle and velocity (88 mph).
But we definitely DO get stuck in certain thinking patterns. Need to be heard and acknowledged... Appreciated. Hell, that starts way back when we're little vegetables trying to please our parents that we're properly limiting ourselves to this 3D circus...
Right and wrong... not completely legit. Bringing it back to THE ONE. So, don't fall into any method of perception as the only. Rational and logical thinking not altogether comprehensive. Need intuition and feeling as well. Perhaps this entire perceived reality is the biggest conspiracy of all. We have to be trained and constantly ingrained to continue believing in it EVERY DAY.
I've been reviewing the X-Files lately. That show does a great job of staying in the "grey" area. It focuses exactly on what that article is flirting with...
Well, no matter what's "true" or not, nothing can kill my imagination and need to be creative!
;)
Fluid intelligence is the general ability to think abstractly, reason, identify patterns, solve problems, and discern relationships. Developed by Raymond Cattell and his student John Horn in the 1970s and 1980s, the concept is used in psychology to explain intelligence.
for some reason all this makes me think of the Tin Man
I promise I did that consciously (said what I wanted to say about 9-11 rather than actually respond to the forum post), but I truly do understand your point Jez. You are talking about the human being's favorite pastime in your 2nd quote above, Cognitive Dissonance (our Kryptonite?).
My meager approach to this very well-entrenched human dilemma is to try to get someone to experience cognitive dissonance personally while being conscious of it for that tiny moment - to promote a personal epiphany so to speak.
The viceral experience of feeling your mind change about something.
I use 9-11 because it is such a perfect example of how easily we can be hypnotized by a lie - a State-sanctioned lie in this case. I take the idea from my own personal experience, and because it is so obvious once a little critical thinking is employed, something in very short supply these days it seems.
If someone who believes the official story of 9-11, 19 terrorists get away with hijacking planes, successfully flying them into the WTC towers and the Pentagon, and in so doing not only cause the twin towers to fall, but also building 7 later in the day.
If I can get someone to just get a small glimpse of the absurdity of it, how steel structures cannot possibly fall like that without a very well-planned, well-engineered and orchestrated demolition procedure, than maybe, just maybe I can get them to understand how easily we can be fooled due to exactly what your forum post is getting at.
One approach attempts to explain the evolutionary navigational processes that have become such a large part of our very subjective and phenomenal human experience. The other attempts to have a person actually experience it in real time and actually feel that cognitive light switch flip on.
Its a tiny bit like when LSD begins to kick in, weeeeeeee
It will forever be my intent to share the absurdity of 9-11 until it is understood by the masses just how lame the lie truly is. Not even to share who, what and where as much as just focus on those falling buildings and what it requires to do that well, how much energy is required to almost completely disintegrate a very well-engineered 110 story steel structure.
If the lie lacks imagination and we can so easily buy the lie en mass, then how we must sorely lack imagination. Makes me a bit sad and impatient. Makes me sad because I actually believe the collective we on Earth have been more saavy and intelligent at other times, and that we have not only not gained ground in the evolutionary process, but have actually lost ground recently...
the eb and flow of duh...........
Never gave the Tin Man, anything he didn't already have...
Hey Chris,
and this is the whole thing yeah...we can do anything and as long as we can see ourselves doing it all is cool!...
and as you know, you really are a gluten for punishment..you'll never chamge....I cheer you on......long live you dude!...
these days I am more than happy to let people be......learnt my lesson trying to save a nothing Cat once yeah.....
I definitely agree, this existence is the greatest conspiracy of all....
and imagination and creativity is very cool.......unless it comes out like Kanye West....then there might be something to the saying, everything in moderation.....lol....
Unless maybe it's Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool turning down the offer to host SNL and stealing lines from Kanye... but, hey. I DO still love some pop culture here and there
It's best not to get too caught up in any belief. All is subject to change. Except perhaps the pillars which hold us all together. Probably best to leave those to their job so we can enjoy this little game of cats and meeces while we have the chance. Individually we all have such limited perspective. I wonder what we could manifest collectively? ...
I mostly exist in the mundane world these days, but I'm looking to root down and branch out a little. People are my challenge and mirror to test my balance before I'm really ready for that. Got a ways to go...
About that reality thing. It IS shifting. I notice the power I have to affect change. And I'm trying to be more conscientious and responsible with it. No need to add to the dissonance already abundant these days. Enjoy the silence
Hey we have the same birthday!...lol....I'm 2 years older.....
Watched deadpool yesterday, didn't like it very much.....Ryan Reynolds is like Tom Cruise, the same in every movie....Ryan playing vampire hunter, Ryan playing bad ass super hero, Ryan playing........and yeah, I love my movies and tv series.......nothing wrong with some escapism....you have to turn off every now and then....
June 20th? Not on your profile... Today is my brother Eric's 40th. And the anniversary of Laura Palmer's death (Twin Peaks). I'm a David Lynch fan too.
Definitely need to turn it off. Often. Same thing in regards to reality and this paradigm. It all supports itself. "Believe me!", "believe in me"... ad nauseum
I realize it daily in my surreal work world of Walmart. The Death Star. Heart of Darkness. I have many pet names for it. It's all plastic. Cheap. Superficial. Not much of worth there. So I try to focus on the people. Share smiles. Acknowledge them. There are some tough ones I don't do so well with. Sucking it up!
Probably the most interesting in the realm of conspiracy theories and this free association thing is Peter Moon and publishings from SkyBooks. He takes free association to the next level. Highly entertaining whatever its degree of truth. I think I first experienced that style with Drunvalo Melchizedek and the Flower of Life books. Similar but different. PM calls that style a "mystery sandwich"...
For me, I look at ancient cultures and their art to really make myself aware of other paradigms. Languages were lost. Places forgotten and destroyed. Took a bunch of greedy looting Europeans to traipse around the planet digging it up and stealing it for museums and wealthy sponsors to bring it to light.
So, more interesting to me than any real answers, is the question. What DID happen to all of those people and cultures thousands of years ago that the descendants and current people have no direct knowledge of? Don't even know those languages anymore! That to me is fascinating
Yeah scrubbed my profile years ago, but June 20th it is....ancient cultures are very cool. I used to know someone who learnt San skirt, read and write...not sure if she learned to speak it......she is now an artist combining new methods with old traditional ones.....would probably be right down your alley....
What appealed to me most in the midst of the WM materials was the whole concept of fluid intelligence, which Chris B also referred above. Studying into these ancient cultures or visiting sacred power spots seems to do this. Remove one, as it were, from this timeline. Imagine before clocks! Whoa, buddy! Heaven on Earth.
Also, learning languages or translating materials from other places and times seems to enhance this too.
Your friend is probably opening up other pathways and connections in her cerebral unit by crossing those boundaries. Exciting!
Don't think I'd be ready for "the chair"...
Maybe. I'm already crazy, so what would I have to lose? Drugs are just teasers and potentially damaging, but they at least can INITIALLY shake one out of their framework. Just can't become dependent or abusive...
Then there's dancing and music...
I have recently been doing some Shamanic Drumming Journeys, the old ways have much to teach us.
Have bought a couple of small Maracas that I sometimes use also, find there are some great songs that not only do I dance to, I also use the Maracas as my own input, it's very opening.
Also in regard to the ages that led us to this point, my mother bought me the series "Great Ages of Man" when I was very young, received one per month absolutely loved them and still have them and read them.
Very cool set.....how many times have you read them?......lots I bet....are they one author and source or all different?
I love book sets like those. Or ones about unexplained mysteries and supernatural phenomena. Bigfoot, Loch Ness monster, etc. Those look super cool though. I'm sure they've gotten some use! Probably have some good pictures...
The Time Life company was founded by Jean, Incorporated in 1961, as a book marketing division. It takes its name from Time and Life magazines, two of the most popular weeklies of the era.
Time Life gained fame as a seller of book series that would be mailed to households in monthly installments, operating as book sales clubs. Several of these book series garnered substantial critical acclaim unusual for a mass-market mail order house
(copied from wikipedia)
If I was born now I would be boxed as ADHD and put on drugs or some such, however my Mum (Bless Her) realised I loved reading and looking at pictures, so it started with a weekly magazine called "Animals", then it was onto books from Time Life started with "Great Ages" then onto "Library of Art", these Mags & Books kept me occupied for hours and obviously gave my Mum some peace
The authors were different for each book, so the writing styles changed a lot, which kept my attention. These books & Mags have remained very precious.
Chris, pictures are awesome my friend, this is one cover of one of my favourites
Plus the Art books
I am so blessed to have these, and am looking forward to the day I could pass them to my Grandchildren, trusting they will find the same joy exude from their pages
Lol, as I look around my 'office', the spare room where my 'puter now shares space with my grandson's toys and stuffed animals, books are stacked everywhere as the bookshelves including a large closet made into them are overflowing. Upstairs, there are books in every room..so many my hubby sighs whenever I bring a new one home. (patient man he is!)
Though I love the 'connection' computers and technology bring, I also mourn that many youth are so uninterested in the wealth of knowledge that can be found in the written word. One of my daughters favorite pastimes when they were young was going to the library for the afternoon-I believe it's one reason they are so successful in their chosen work.
I'm one of those people who could have the walls fall around them whilst my nose is in a good book. Your collections do indeed look well read and well loved Ian. Storytelling is something I'm really enjoying when visiting the kindergarten. They are such a captive audience when genuinely engaged-I swear they don't take their eyes off me once. A real accomplishment for ones so young and pure pleasure for me!
Let's conspire to keep open those young minds eh...one conspiracy theory I'm all IN.
Amazing. How cool things used to be! Hold on to and share those treasures people! I'm the same. Used book store and eBay junkie. Of the stylish old stuff. When it had class. If only most shelves and cabinets could be built into the wall...
He was close to the noisy street, so he did the whole wall facing the street, except for the door and window,,he had a lot of books and it cut most of the street noise out. Great sound insulation,,it made it much easier to read at his house.. I had quite a collection for a long time , but started that, read em and pass em on thing.NowI just have a few,,books I need to find bits of info now and then. I remember those time life series,,my friend had that set.
Noticed there are many of those books for sale on eBay! ...
Wish I had the extra funds right now, but the wife would kill me! Maybe this summer around birthday time...
As lovely as those books may be, they're like a frog fart in a hurricane compared to 26,000 years... can't even IMAGINE all of the things in the UNIVERSE that they don't account for...
;)
I guess, inevitably, it's the Akasha for me...