Study: Rational arguments and ridicule can both reduce belief in conspiracy theories

Will this help diffuse conspiracy theories? Or are they just too embedded in our political culture? Will this help with conspiracy theories propagated by the Left (such as the vast right-wing conspiracy or the AIDS epidemic as a government plot)?

http://www.psypost.org/2016/12/stud...e-can-reduce-belief-conspiracy-theories-46597

Study: Rational arguments and ridicule can both reduce belief in conspiracy theories
BY ERIC W. DOLAN ON DECEMBER 19, 2016 INTERVIEWS, SOCIAL

Pointing out logical inconsistencies in conspiracy theories can be an effective method of discrediting them, according to new research published in Frontiers in Psychology.

The researchers had 813 Hungarian adults listen to a speech outlining a made-up conspiracy that purported to explain how hidden Jewish groups and international financial powers were secretly shaping the fate of Hungary. The speech emphasized that “nothing happens by chance, nothing is what it seems, everything is interconnected with everything, and the world is divided into good and evil.”



The participants then listened to another speech which either: pointed out the logical flaws of the conspiracy theory, mocked the ridiculousness and irrationality of those who believed the conspiracy theory, or called attention to the dangers of scapegoating while attempting to increase empathy for Jews. A fourth group of participants, who were used as a control, listened to a weather forecast.

The researchers found that the rationality speech and the ridiculing speech — but not the empathetic speech — were effective in reducing belief in the conspiracy theory.

PsyPost interviewed Peter Kreko, a visiting professor at Indiana University, assistant professor at Eötvös Loránt University of Sciences and senior associate to Political Capital Institute. Read his explanation of the research below:

PsyPost: Why were you interested in this topic?

Kreko: Because, despite the lot of good research on the functions and nature of conspiracy theories, the reduction of conspiracy beliefs has been rather a neglected topic. Conspiracy theories, on the other hand, are extremely widespread – and not just in dictatorships, but democratic societies as well. Conspiracy theories can be extremely harmful, they can lead to the persecution of groups. For examples, the Protocols of Elders of Zion, a conspiracy theory fabricated in the early 20th century on the Jewish leaders’ plot to rule the World, played an important role in the ideological justification of the murders of the Holocaust. Anti-science conspiracy theories are often similarly dangerous – the anti-vaccination movement is a good example. Several hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to die each year as a consequence of non-vaccination. Given all of these negative impacts of conspiracy theories, it is essential to have evidence-based studies on how to reduce the popularity of such theories.

What should the average person take away from your study?

Our findings refuted three general beliefs on conspiracy theories. First, that conspiracy theories are impossible to refute. Rational and ridiculing arguments were both effective in reducing conspiracy theories. Second, that belief in conspiracy theories is connected to specific personality types e.g. paranoia and paranoiac schizophrenia. Only very weak, or even non-significant links were found between conspiracy theory-related variables and individual differences.

Third, our findings go against the mainstream of the communication literature and “common wisdom,” as well as the current affective wave of social psychology emphasizing that emotions constitute the most important factor behind shaping beliefs and attitudes. Despite the general assessment that we are in a “post-truth” World, truth and facts do matter when it comes to refuting conspiracy theories. Uncovering arguments regarding the logical inconsistencies of conspiracy beliefs can be an effective way to discredit them.

 

The mainstream media consider anything that differs from the official government version of things to be a silly conspiracy theory. Here's some counter-info.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/weapon...ory-disinformation-agents-and-the-cia/5524552
http://northerntruthseeker.blogspot.com.es/2012/03/radical-rethinking-of-conspiracy.html

Each issue should be looked at objectively and both sides should be able to present their arguments.
http://well-temperedforum.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9130004433/m/6371082656/p/1

On some sites, the moderators use their powers to make sure the official version defenders keep the upper hand by deleting the posts of the "Conspiracy theorists". That's not necessary when the truth is being defended. I started a thread on that.
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201736

A lot of things that the mainstream considers to be conspiracy theories are true.

 

Fighting conspiracy theories with logical arguments is valid; fighting them with ridicule is not. All conspiracy theories are not false, so if you have to resort to ridicule, it's a good sign that you're wrong. For instance, for many years, MKUltra was called a conspiracy theory, and ridicule was indeed employed. Now, it is admitted fact. So, while it may have been "effective" to ridicule those who attempted to blow the whistle on that illegal program and those who believed them, doing so was morally reprehensible. The article says conspiracy theories can help governments perform evil acts like the Holocaust, but it fails to mention that shaming into silence those trying to expose evil acts also helps to enable those acts. I'll bet the Nazi regime labeled reports of the Holocaust as conspiracy theory, and ridiculed those trying to expose it.

 

You need to check out the revisionists' research. Here's a link to some of it.
http://www.politicalforum.com/index...caust-largely-a-fraud.466383/#post-1067256489

This is a bit strange. I'm not the one who started that thread but the posts in front of mine are gone.