Brian Pears
12th July 2007, 10:57 AM
There's an article in this week's New Scientist magazine by psychologist Patrick Leman (of the Royal Holloway, University of London) entitled "The Born Conspiracy". The beginning of the article is here:
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg19526121.300-the-lure-of-the-conspiracy-theory.html
but the full article isn't available to non-subscribers.
It's an intereresting article - the main points being:
* Occasionally CTers uncover real conspiracies, eg Iran-Contra, but some CTs are dangerous, eg those which the fuelled the cold war.
* Some people seem prone to belief in CTs - believers in one CT are much more likely to believe others.
* Folks aged 20-35 when a big, shocking, international story breaks are much more likely to believe it was the result of a conspiracy than those older or younger. That is the age-range when iconic, shared events are likely to trigger "flashbulb memories" which seem to predispose people to CT belief.
* There's a very strong presumption that major events cannot have minor or mundane causes.
* There's a strong confirmation bias among CT believers - giving more weight to new information consistent with their theories. Non-believers can show a similar bias.
* New evidence which contradicts a CT leads to either a change in the CT or to the evidence being rejected on the grounds that those presenting it are part of the conspiracy.
It concludes "For conspiracy believers and non-believers alike, there is a kind of truth out there. It's just a rather different truth that each seeks."
There's a side-box instructing readers how to:
CREATE THE PERFECT CONSPIRACY THEORY
PICK YOUR ADVERSARY
* A sense of anomie (dislocation from society and authority) fuels beliefs in conspiracy theories, so pick a big bad organisation of some sort - government or big business is ideal.
* For added spice, identify a shadowy, secretive society with implied links to your adversary: the more shadowy, the better
CHOOSE YOUR EVENT
* You'll need a big, contemporary newsworthy event around which to weave your theory
* If it's a sudden, shocking visual occurrence of international import it is more likely to become a "flashbulb memory" for the masses. Your key conspiracy audience, most able to create such vivid "indelible" memories will be between the ages of 20 and 35
DEVELOP YOUR STORY
* Construct your theory from carefully selected information that weaves together into a compelling story
* If something doesn't fit, reinterpret it in line with your theory
* Create uncertainty: question existing evidence or find new evidence that contradicts the "official" account
PREPARE YOUR DEFENCE
* If someone highlights a gap or inconsistency in your evidence, don't be afraid to tweak your story, but keep the core conspiracy in place
* You can allow the finer details of the theory to mutate, but always keep in mind the maxim - "they did it, I just have to find the proof that they did it"
* Broaden the circle of conspirators to include those who question your position... "they're denying the truth - they must be involved too!"
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/mg19526121.300-the-lure-of-the-conspiracy-theory.html
but the full article isn't available to non-subscribers.
It's an intereresting article - the main points being:
* Occasionally CTers uncover real conspiracies, eg Iran-Contra, but some CTs are dangerous, eg those which the fuelled the cold war.
* Some people seem prone to belief in CTs - believers in one CT are much more likely to believe others.
* Folks aged 20-35 when a big, shocking, international story breaks are much more likely to believe it was the result of a conspiracy than those older or younger. That is the age-range when iconic, shared events are likely to trigger "flashbulb memories" which seem to predispose people to CT belief.
* There's a very strong presumption that major events cannot have minor or mundane causes.
* There's a strong confirmation bias among CT believers - giving more weight to new information consistent with their theories. Non-believers can show a similar bias.
* New evidence which contradicts a CT leads to either a change in the CT or to the evidence being rejected on the grounds that those presenting it are part of the conspiracy.
It concludes "For conspiracy believers and non-believers alike, there is a kind of truth out there. It's just a rather different truth that each seeks."
There's a side-box instructing readers how to:
CREATE THE PERFECT CONSPIRACY THEORY
PICK YOUR ADVERSARY
* A sense of anomie (dislocation from society and authority) fuels beliefs in conspiracy theories, so pick a big bad organisation of some sort - government or big business is ideal.
* For added spice, identify a shadowy, secretive society with implied links to your adversary: the more shadowy, the better
CHOOSE YOUR EVENT
* You'll need a big, contemporary newsworthy event around which to weave your theory
* If it's a sudden, shocking visual occurrence of international import it is more likely to become a "flashbulb memory" for the masses. Your key conspiracy audience, most able to create such vivid "indelible" memories will be between the ages of 20 and 35
DEVELOP YOUR STORY
* Construct your theory from carefully selected information that weaves together into a compelling story
* If something doesn't fit, reinterpret it in line with your theory
* Create uncertainty: question existing evidence or find new evidence that contradicts the "official" account
PREPARE YOUR DEFENCE
* If someone highlights a gap or inconsistency in your evidence, don't be afraid to tweak your story, but keep the core conspiracy in place
* You can allow the finer details of the theory to mutate, but always keep in mind the maxim - "they did it, I just have to find the proof that they did it"
* Broaden the circle of conspirators to include those who question your position... "they're denying the truth - they must be involved too!"