Misinformation plays a determinant role in the spread of conspiracy theories. The assumption that the earth is flat is, for instance, believed by some seven percent of Brazilians. Worldwide, the belief in climate change is the highest in South Korea, Italy, and India, while it is the lowest in Japan and in the United States.ĭespite the understanding of the Earth as flat or as a disk is long since disproven, in modern times, this misconception exists as a conspiracy theory. In the United State, for instance, one in five Americans believe that climate change is a hoax. Other theories, instead, focus on debunking widely accepted science, such as climate change or the shape of the earth. The latter is, in fact, believed by around 23 percent of Americans. Some beliefs are more political, such as the alleged use of chemtrails to control the population or the belief that 9/11 was an inside job. Another motive that drives people is the need to feel good about themselves, such as by having access to information to which other people do not. For instance, people are drawn towards such theories when they feel unsafe, or when they want to feel more powerful in a situation. Subscribe to the Thread newsletter for the latest book and author news and must-read recommendations.Psychologists have several explanations for this behavior. Cosby’s mystery novels and why you should, too. I hope you’ll catch my interview with her in a few weeks on my Friday Book show. She writes: “The fringe wasn’t fringe anymore.” Weill also points out that Donald Trump’s election in 2020 and his tweeted support for quack doctors and hoax COVID cures lit a match under the conspiracy world. This can lead to a vicious cycle of alienation and acceptance, pulling a person away from society at large and further into a conspiratorial movement.” Weill writes: Once committed to a conspiracy theory, people find themselves even likelier to be socially ostracized. Weill, a journalist who covers the conspiracy beat for The Daily Beast and spoken with thousands of flat-earthers, also introduces us to Nate Wolfe, a pastor from Ohio who lost his congregation and his church when they found out he believed that the Earth was flat.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |