4 ms·

Do you have a link to this study? Intuitively to me, that seems like the opposite of what you should do. If you ridicule someone, they just go deeper into thei

by SCdF 9y ago

Do you have a link to this study? Intuitively to me, that seems like the opposite of what you should do. If you ridicule someone, they just go deeper into their crazy group, and are exposed to even less correct information. Additionally, people who are a little ridiculed get pushed toward those who are also ridiculed for crazier ideas, because they feel accepted there.

nasredin 9y ago
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. http://www.psypost.org/2016/12/study-rational-arguments-ridicule-can-reduce-belief-conspiracy-theories-46597 http://www.psypost.org/2016/12/study-rational-arguments-ridi... --- I was wrong, BOTH rational and ridicule methods are effective. Ridicule is probably more amusing though. LOL.
- SCdF 9y ago
  Very interesting article, thanks! It looks like this study was done by people who only just heard of the conspiracy (and so, if my anecdotal experience is anything to go by, they have less investment, especially because they haven't put any personal action into researching it). I wonder if / how this would differ if you tried to reduce the belief of someone who was deep into pizzagate or something like that. Someone who has formed an identity around believing this kind of thing, someone who feels like they themselves "discovered" or pieced this stuff together etc.
  - nasredin 9y ago
    I would think most people are conspiracy consumers rather than producers or dissiminators like Alex Jones. There's also the genuine held belief aspect. I think some of the latest conspiracy theories are not born out of a genuine held belief, but are used just to troll or for political purposes (Obama is a Muslim). Also IIRC Pizzagate was born out of 4chan, it just escalated QUICKLY. I am guessing trying to debate someone who is genuinely invested in a conspiracy (spent time and money) is harder than someone who listens to late night radio and watches Alex Jones. Sorry to keep posting OT and about politics but do you know who would be a perfect candidate to study believes in conspiracy theories SO deeply held that they keep talking about them after they no longer matter? Rhetorical. It's Trump. He keeps talking about Obama's birth certificate, losing the popular vote to illegal voters and a new one, the Pussygrabbing tape is fake. So everybody loves conspiracies, even presidents - a simple, black and white explanation for the increasingly complex, dangerous, chaotic time (e.g. DPRK).

by SCdF 9y ago

nasredin 9y ago

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. http://www.psypost.org/2016/12/study-rational-arguments-ridicule-can-reduce-belief-conspiracy-theories-46597 http://www.psypost.org/2016/12/study-rational-arguments-ridi... --- I was wrong, BOTH rational and ridicule methods are effective. Ridicule is probably more amusing though. LOL.

SCdF 9y ago
Very interesting article, thanks! It looks like this study was done by people who only just heard of the conspiracy (and so, if my anecdotal experience is anything to go by, they have less investment, especially because they haven't put any personal action into researching it). I wonder if / how this would differ if you tried to reduce the belief of someone who was deep into pizzagate or something like that. Someone who has formed an identity around believing this kind of thing, someone who feels like they themselves "discovered" or pieced this stuff together etc.
- nasredin 9y ago
  I would think most people are conspiracy consumers rather than producers or dissiminators like Alex Jones. There's also the genuine held belief aspect. I think some of the latest conspiracy theories are not born out of a genuine held belief, but are used just to troll or for political purposes (Obama is a Muslim). Also IIRC Pizzagate was born out of 4chan, it just escalated QUICKLY. I am guessing trying to debate someone who is genuinely invested in a conspiracy (spent time and money) is harder than someone who listens to late night radio and watches Alex Jones. Sorry to keep posting OT and about politics but do you know who would be a perfect candidate to study believes in conspiracy theories SO deeply held that they keep talking about them after they no longer matter? Rhetorical. It's Trump. He keeps talking about Obama's birth certificate, losing the popular vote to illegal voters and a new one, the Pussygrabbing tape is fake. So everybody loves conspiracies, even presidents - a simple, black and white explanation for the increasingly complex, dangerous, chaotic time (e.g. DPRK).