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Conspiracy theories- what to do about it?

 

Recent developments in the United States president’s election provided an insight into the proliferation of conspiracy theories. Movements supporting theories like the election was robbed by Democrats, and that fraud was rampant. With no evidence whatsoever and resulting in substantial damage to democracy.

For the absentminded,  it was difficult to believe in the array of theories, masterminded to capture specific party base's minds and guarantee its absolute support, regardless of the legal final election outcome.

The first thought is, why these people believe and follow these theories? Some information mentions that conspiracy theories are appalling to people in particular when they have important psychological needs that are not being satisfied. Being less educated, with a desire to feel special (narcissist tendencies), with feelings of powerlessness. Could they also be used to fill a void caused by the abandonment of religion? This last statement highlights an actual tendency, most of all in the young population.

Conspiracy theories then are replacing the need to “belong” and is feeding the powerless. They will belong to the group that rejects real facts, science deniers. Cult believers, properly subjugated by the populist, manipulative leader. Also, theories spread are exacerbated by online media, and the power of consistency in the information provided: from one side the main evil propaganda, and from the other side the real facts about the subject.

Facing these speculations, there is another phenomenon; it is the sense of fear and anxiety experimented by true believers, as sometimes fake news are presented in a way that makes you doubt what is real and what is not. What to do about this? The immediate remedy will be to turn off the news. But most important is to practice critical thinking.  Consider if the theory is accurate, examine what is the evidence? Analyze the facts. Is the information coming from the same sources?

Moving forward, it is crucial to exercise this type thinking as an antidote, because as the world advance through pandemic and economic inequalities, the conspiracy theories will find a way to permeate in all aspects of our life, to a point that we can end living in a total alternate untrue reality.

Comments

  1. martinDecember 21, 2020 at 5:16 PM

    Hello mom, it is me, Mariana. I agree that some conspiracy theories sound a lot like cults. The best approach is to apply critical thinking and hope that science prevails over politics and fake news.

    ReplyDelete

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