Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories

Product Information

Brotherton’s arguments are explained not just in his book, but, up to a point, in his article “The logic behind conspiracy theories”. presents a textured and often surprising look into the fascinating world of conspiracy theories. A world so often described as dark and shady is shown to be much closer to home than we could have first imagined.”– Ella Rhodes, The Psychologist Michael Specter, “The dangerous conspiracy theories about the zika virus,” The New Yorker, February 25, 2016. http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/the-dangerous-conspiracy-theories-about-the-zika-virus

Conspiracy theorists aren't just a handful of people who wear tin-foil hats and have bizarre ideas about shape-shifting reptilian aliens. Conspiracy theories are as likely to appeal to women as to men, college students as to retired professors, middle-class bloggers as to blue-collar workers. Following the history of conspiracy theories the book delves into what a conspiracy theory is exactly (and decides that an important facet of it is that it isn't and likely won't ever be proven) and then the hallmarks of conspiracy thinking. The bulk of the book is devoted to the hallmarks of conspiracy thinking and how every one of us is given to it to a certain extent.He implies that Bertrand Russell, one of the great minds of the twentieth century, participated in a conspiracy by questioning the Warren Report. This alone is pretty outrageous. Robert is in his most “long-term and meaningful” relationship yet — but it’s not without its challenges. Professor Chris French commented: "I'm delighted to see the reception that Rob's book has received from the reviewers. It's a great read and is, to my knowledge, the first popular science book to deal with this fascinating topic. Rob has a very engaging writing style and is able to get across some complex ideas in a reader-friendly manner that makes his book a real pleasure to read." And doesn’t this assertion come close to summing up one of the major principles underlying TOK? Is his point worth repeating–this time in bold? Yes! Generally, conspiracy theories are dismissed as laughable, absurd, or just exasperating. However, the urgency underlying the need for clear-sighted weighing of evidence surrounding conspiracy theories is evident in many contemporary crises. Conspiracy theories can be truly damaging.

Published in the journal PLOS ONE in May 2015, Dr Brotherton and Professor French’s recently co-authored research suggests that belief in conspiracy theories is widespread because of an ‘intentionality bias’ built into our brains. This must be why creationists hate evolution so much, and how atheism inspires horror in many people. If no one (no God) is in charge then this universe is just gonna crash! And burn! And it’s also a real lonesome thought – nobody cares about us humans, we’re on our own here, cosmic orphans. Believers would rather have a tyrannical God than that, like some people will stay in an abusive relationship rather than leave. Any mindset I had going into Season 2 flew out the door when our worlds came crashing down around us,” he says. “But despite all the drama, I always try to see the light at the end of the tunnel, the opportunity in a downturn.”The truthers bravely and boldly say some truly repulsive things. In the immediate aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing professional theorist Alex Jones tweeted