How To Assist A Person Who Is A Conspiracy Theorist?

To help those who have fallen for conspiracy theories, it is essential to “pre-bunk” them before they spread. Focusing on prevention, the best strategies involve helping people recognize unreliable information and untrustworthy sources before exposure to a specific belief. An open-minded approach starts with asking questions and listening, building understanding with the person. Listen carefully and avoid defending your own beliefs.

Experts and r/ChangeMyView subreddit moderators offer 10 tips to debunk conspiracy theories convincingly and kindly. Conspiracy believers often seek to increase their understanding, gain control, and feel they belong. Critical thinking, empathy, patience, and openness can help.

To talk to people who endorse conspiracy theories, acknowledge the scale of the task and avoid laying out evidence or pointing out logical contradictions. People’s first instinct when engaging with conspiracy believers is often to try and debunk their ideas with factual and authoritative methods. A new review finds that only some methods to counteract conspiracy beliefs are effective.

A CMU philosophy professor who specializes in conspiracy theories has a few ideas about how to talk to relatives who traffic in them at CMU. Dismissing conspiracy theorists is not a productive way to tackle the issue. Four recommendations for a productive conversation include Dr. Mathew Marques, Professor Karen Douglas, and Assistant Professor Daniel Jolley.

Believing in conspiracy theories can be harmful to physical and mental health.