September 30, 2020

Studies & Signals: Insights into the Conspiracy Mindset - Because Reasons 4

30 minutes

Episode 16 | Studies & Signals: Insights into the Conspiracy Mindset - Because Reasons 4

Guest: John Poston, Theatrical Artist & Writer

We talk about the origins of some clichés about conspiracy folks, as well as some actual scientific studies about the mindset. We also deftly use Star Trek as a metaphor for the brain. And some questionnaires you can take at home to find out just how conspiracy-minded you are yourself. A lot of what you think you know about conspiracy theorists is probably wrong. But some of it is right.

Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our page on Buy Me a Coffee. #ConspiracyClearinghouse #sharingiscaring #donations #support #buymeacoffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ConspiracyClear

You can also SUBSCRIBE to this podcast.

SECTIONS

01:28 - Conspiracy Folks Are People

02:47 - The Tin Foil Hat

03:47 - The Lunatic Fringe & The Paranoid Style in American Politics by Richard Hofstadter

04:50 - The Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire (CMQ) (2013)

07:57 - Some Findings of the CMQ

08:58 - The Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS) (2013)

13:51 - Three Studies: Analytic thinking reduces belief in conspiracy theories - Viren Swami, Martin Voracek, Stefan Stieger, Ulrich S. Tran & Adrian Furnham

16:55 - Star Trek as a Metaphor for the Brain's Information Processing Systems, the First Study

20:37 - The Second Study - the First Evidence that Analytic Thinking Might Reduce Conspiracy-Mindedness

22:11 - The Third Study

23:47 - People Tend to Silo, Emotional Gratification is Key, Tribal Signaling

25:42 - Hofstadter Oversimplified Things, Social Media Is Also Tribe Signaling, Humans Have a Big White of the Eye, Film Actors Have Big Bobble Heads

27:52 - Conspiracy Thinkers Are Not Necessarily Tin Foil Hatters

How conspiracy-minded are YOU? Take the GCBS yourself!

Music by Fanette Ronjat

PREVIOUS BECAUSE REASONS: Conspiracy Thinking in Eastern Europe

Follow us on social for extra goodies:

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube (including some extra videos on the topic)

Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt

DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence for Podcasts Series-Corporate Communications and on numerous top 10 podcast lists.

PRAGUE TIMES - A city is more than just a location - it’s a kaleidoscope of history, places, people and trends. This podcast looks at Prague, in the center of Europe, from a number of perspectives, including what it is now, what is has been and where it’s going. It’s Prague THEN, Prague NOW, Prague LATER.

...more

View all episodes

By Derek DeWitt

4.9

2020 ratings