Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology.
In today’s episode, Chris and Abbie are discussing: Conspiracy theories. They will talk about what makes a Conspiracy Theory and why we believe them. [May 1, 2023]
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Show Notes
Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology.
In today’s episode, Chris and Abbie are discussing: Conspiracy theories. They will talk about what makes a Conspiracy Theory and why we believe them. [May 1, 2023]
00:00 – Intro
00:17 – Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro
00:59 – Intro Links
- Social-Engineer.com– http://www.social-engineer.com/
- Managed Voice Phishing– https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/
- Managed Email Phishing– https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/
- Adversarial Simulations– https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/
- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK– https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb
- CLUTCH– http://www.pro-rock.com/
- org– http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/
04:45 – The Topic of the Day: The TRUTH Behind Conspiracy Theories
05:54 – What is a Conspiracy Theory?
07:39 – What’s the harm?
10:20 – WHY???
11:17 – Pattern Seekers
13:15 – Cognitive Closure
17:04 – The Role of Critical Thinking
19:18 – An Existential Element
20:41 – Don’t Forget the Lizards!
22:35 – What about Bigfoot?
24:30 – Escapism
30:15 – Reading the Emotions
32:29 – Social Motive
33:31 – Emotions vs Critical Thinking
36:42 – Prove Me Wrong!
39:09 – The Takeaway: Empathy
40:57 – Wrap Up & Outro
Find us online:
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/abbiejmarono
- LinkedIn: com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd-35ab2611a
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/humanhacker
- LinkedIn: com/in/christopherhadnagy
References:
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Bilewicz, M., Winiewski, M., Kofta, M., & Wójcik, A. (2013). Harmful ideas: The structure and consequences of antiSemitic beliefs in Poland. Political Psychology, 34, 821–839.
Bost, P. R., & Prunier, S. G. (2013). Rationality in conspiracy beliefs: The role of perceived motive. Psychological Reports, 113, 118–128
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Klein, C., Clutton, P., & Dunn, A. G. (2018). Pathways to conspiracy: The social and linguistic precursors of involvement in Reddit’s conspiracy theory forum. Retrieved frompsyarxiv.com/8vesf
Nefes, T. S. (2017). The impacts of the Turkish Government’s “interest rate lobby” theory about the Gezi Park Protests. Social Movement Studies, 16(5), 610–622. https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2017.1319269
Nera, K., Pantazi, M., & Klein, O. (2018). “These are just stories, Mulder”: Exposure to conspiracist fiction does not produce narrative persuasion. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00684
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van Prooijen, J.-W., & Acker, M. (2015). The influence of control on belief in conspiracy theories: Conceptual and applied extensions. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 29, 753–761.
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