Americans Struggle to Identify Conspiracy Theories They Embrace as Truth

Author: University of Illinois Chicago
Published: 2024/04/08 - Updated: 2025/02/21
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Research, Study, Analysis
Topic: Offbeat News - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This article examines the quirky and thought-provoking idea of "conspiracy blindness," a term that suggests some folks might overlook conspiracies not because they're gullible, but because their minds just don't latch onto those kinds of patterns. It's an interesting read because it flips the usual narrative - rather than focusing on why people believe wild theories, it asks why some don't, even when there's evidence staring them in the face. This could resonate with anyone curious about how we think, especially people with disabilities or seniors who might deal with skepticism or dismissal in their own lives. It's helpful too, offering a fresh lens on human behavior that could spark conversations or even help someone understand why they - or others - see the world differently. Plus, it's got a light, offbeat vibe that makes it approachable for pretty much anyone - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Conspiracy theorists get a bad rap in popular culture, yet research has shown that most Americans believe conspiracy theories of some sort. Why then, if most of us believe conspiracies, do we generally think of conspiracy theorists as strange?

Main Item

New research from the University of Illinois Chicago found that it's because people are quite bad at identifying what is or isn't a conspiracy theory when it's something they believe. The finding held true whether people self-identified as being liberal or conservative. "Conspiracy blindness" became less pronounced when study participants took more time to consider whether something was a conspiracy theory, and when they were given a definition of conspiracy theories to consider. The research is published in PLOS One.

"A lot of people believe these things, but it just never occurs to them that they may be a conspiracy theory," said JP Prims, a visiting lecturer in psychology at UIC and the study's author.

After all, conspiracy theories aren't always false - think Watergate. Indeed, Prims found their way to this research after realizing that they believed a conspiracy theory: that oil and gas companies deliberately hide information on climate change.

Prims showed that people were bad at labeling their beliefs as conspiracy theories across two studies, each with roughly 250 online participants.

The first study asked participants to read summaries of news articles, half of which came from mainstream outlets that did not contain conspiracies and half from conspiracy news sites that did.

The second study was similar but used statements that either did or did not include a conspiracy, as opposed to real articles.

Examples of the conspiracies included that pharmaceutical companies push state governments to require vaccinations or that 5G wireless networks pose health risks.

Participants then rated how true they thought the article or statement was and whether it contained a conspiracy. In both studies, the more a participant believed the conspiracy article or statement, the more difficulty they had recognizing it as a conspiracy. Participants were also less likely to correctly identify conspiracy theories when they made their decision quickly.

The second study included an additional element. Half the participants were given a definition of conspiracy theories at the outset. It included three elements: a group of powerful people is working together to accomplish a goal, they are trying to keep this work secret and they are acting at the expense of others. The other participants did not get this definition in advance. Yet all participants were given a checklist of these three items when considering whether each statement contained a conspiracy. Those who had been specifically told this was the definition of a conspiracy theory were more likely to correctly identify conspiracies, Prims found.

Importantly, in this second study, identifying something as a conspiracy theory did not make people less likely to believe it. This finding is important for those who believe that debunking conspiracy theories will prompt people to change their beliefs - an admirable pursuit given that many conspiracy theories are false and potentially dangerous.

Instead, the goal should perhaps be to make people more aware that they're not alone in their belief in conspiracy theories, Prims said.

"Having your beliefs labeled as conspiracy theories can be very alienating," they said. "Recognizing that this is much more common than we think might address some of that isolation and those feelings of disconnection from society."

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

In a world where misinformation spreads quickly, understanding phenomena like conspiracy blindness is more important than ever. This article serves as a reminder to pause, reflect, and question the narratives we encounter, fostering a more thoughtful approach to the information we consume. All in all, this piece leaves you with something to chew on - maybe we're not all wired to spot the same shadows in the corners, and that's okay. It's a refreshing take that doesn't preach or judge, just nudges you to consider how different eyes see different worlds. Encouraging self-reflection and promoting media literacy are crucial steps in addressing the issue. For anyone who's felt out of step with the crowd - disabled or not - it's a quiet nod that our quirks shape what we notice, and what we don't. Kind of makes you wonder: what's hiding in plain sight that we're all missing, each in our own way?

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Illinois Chicago and published on 2024/04/08, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, University of Illinois Chicago can be contacted at uic.edu NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.