While some conspiracy theories can be harmless, theyve also been associated withradicalization of fringe groups.
What makes people prone to believing conspiracy theories?
Theresnothing newabout conspiracy theories, and theyre not unique to the pandemic.
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So how do they start, and why are they so believable?
Anything that encroaches on that could be seen as a conspiracy, says Knight.
That doesnt mean Americans are necessarily more susceptible to conspiracy theories.
That can make us connect dots that shouldnt be connected, says Miller.
That said, its worth noting that theres no evidence that COVID-19 has increased conspiracy theories.
Instead, it may be that uncertainty in general is a fertile ground for conspiracy theories.
We all tend to be attracted to information that supports our beliefs, says Miller.
We all have various spheres of influence that we pay attention to.
Vitriol adds that the internet often facilitates the spread of misinformation.
If someone you follow and respect starts questioning something, it may cause you to question it too.
When and how should you confront someone on conspiracy theories?
Any evidence you provide will be used to further prove the conspiracy theory.
If they say, I am really convinced of this, then they probably arent lying, says Uscinski.
If they say, Hey, I just heard this, what do you think?
you might have a chance.
Still ready to talk?
Convincing someone that their belief is false is not easy to do, says Miller.
A few tips for a productive debunking:
Consider your discussion as a conversation, not a lecture.
have a go at seem like youre open to being persuaded.
You get people to self-persuade that maybe this information isnt up to snuff.
To that point, be prepared to recognize the limits of your expertise and where theres legitimate scientific doubt.
Its okay not to know something.
Its not a coincidence most conspiratorialists are confident in their beliefs, says Vitriol.
Consider the bigger purpose a conspiracy theory might serve for your loved one.
Immediately dismissing their views just makes people defensive and more likely to dig in their heels.
Whatever you do, dont ridicule the person or call them a conspiracy theorist.
Were all wrong all the time, and people want space to correct their errors, says Vitriol.
Think about the persons potential underlying political, emotional, or philosophical motivations.
People who study conspiracies agree: Whatever you do, dont restate a conspiracy theory.
Simply seeing it a lot can make it seem true.
The more recognizable something is, the more likely we are to believe it, says Miller.
Dont get into a tit-for-tat about the facts themselves.
Share credible scientific information from online fact-checking organizations or trusted publishers with your loved one.
Experts used to believe that offering authoritative facts would backfire.
venture to find a source you already know the person trusts, otherwise they may not be as receptive.
Directly shooting a private message with the link would be a nonconfrontational first step, says Kuru.
Heres something I found interesting about that.
Asking lots of detailed questions undermines a persons confidence in any given belief.
Keep in mind, youre not trying to argue about the facts themselves.
Rather, youre pointing out contradictions or logical flaws.
(For the record,188 countrieshave coronavirus cases, whileonly 34 countrieshave 5G towers.)
If your conversation is getting nowhere, its okay to move on.
At some point you just have to back off.
Youre not going to change everyones mind, says Miller.
And that doesnt necessarily mean you cant continue having a fulfilling relationship with this person.
This is more of a constant in human history than something new.
Its not a reason to get mad at someone, says Uscinski.
That said, you may need to draw a line somewhere.
Its hard to debunk a conspiracy once it has taken hold.
Were all susceptible to share things that confirm our beliefs.
Some of those could be conspiracy theories, says Miller.
Finally, try not to lose hope.
