How To Detect Conspiracy Theories In Others?

A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that asserts the existence of a conspiracy by powerful and sinister groups, often political. It can be determined by ten rules: patternicity, agenticity, complexity, people, grandiosity, scale, significance, and accuracy. The nature of the alleged conspiracy can vary, from the myriad political scandals in the United States over the past half century to more recent findings.

Conspiracy theorists often present only evidence that confirms their idea, rarely putting their idea to the tests of logic, reasoning, and critical thinking. Stereotypes regarding the “prototypical” conspiracy theorist may be dead wrong, according to a new paper authored by Robert Gonzalez of the University of California.

To spot a conspiracy theory when you see one, engage in critical analysis of the phenomenon. Fact-checking is important, but it’s often not the right approach when someone passionately believes in conspiracies. Questions are much more effective than assertions, experts say. This Conspiracy Theory Handbook explains the difference between a conspiracy theory that exists only to prop itself up and gives a handy list of red flags to watch out for.

In six episodes, we explore why people believe in conspiracy theories, how they spread, and how dangerous they are. We alert people about the arguments behind the most common COVID-19 conspiracy theories and the key traits of conspiratorial thinking – suspicion of official accounts, immunity to contrary evidence, and more.

People can be prone to believe in conspiracy theories due to a combination of personality traits and motivations, including relying strongly on their intuition. Conspiracy theories explain distressing events as malevolent actions by powerful groups, and why people believe in secret plots when other explanations are less convincing.