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Conspiracy theories: why people need to believe that the truth is hidden out there
theguardian.com ^ | Nov. 7, 2015 | Nicola Davis

Posted on 11/08/2015 10:33:45 AM PST by PROCON


Psychologist Rob Bretherton talks about his new book and the way suspicion can overcome rationality

Why are conspiracy theories so attractive?

There is not so much of a difference between conspiracy theorists and the rest of us. We are drawn to the idea of conspiracy because it resonates with us; we understand the idea of people being self-interested and not having our best interests at heart, and having hidden motives and getting together to do shady stuff. Conspiracy theories extend upon that and tap into these assumptions and fears we have about the world. But we all have them, that’s why conspiracy theories make sense to us all.

How much can we really trust our own rationality and reason?

Not much at all. Most psychological research shows that we are all very much overly confident when it comes to trusting our own reasoning ability, our own perception, our own memory, all kinds of stuff. We live inside this kind of illusion that our brains concoct for us that we are seeing the world objectively and that we are coming to our beliefs because they are just the most sensible beliefs to have, but all the research shows we have a whole host of biases built into our brains that shape and colour our perception and beliefs about the world constantly without us being aware of it.

(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Conspiracy; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: bavarianilluminati; conspiracy; conspiracytheories; fnord; freemasonry; illuminati
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To: DesertRhino
Regardless of what I believe about the JFK assassination, now you're telling me what I can't think?

Wow.

21 posted on 11/08/2015 11:11:30 AM PST by PROCON (Proud CRUZader!)
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To: PROCON
Conspiracy theories: why people need to believe that the truth is hidden out there.

Just trust your leaders.

They will tell you the truth.


22 posted on 11/08/2015 11:13:14 AM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: McGruff
The Carson/pyramid story was just another MSM take-down attempt.

I've read that the grain theory is popular among some archeologists.

I have no opinion because I don't care.

23 posted on 11/08/2015 11:14:08 AM PST by PROCON (Proud CRUZader!)
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To: PROCON

If the truth isn’t out there, where IS it?


24 posted on 11/08/2015 11:17:29 AM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: freedumb2003
Conspiracy theorists are people who cannot exert control over their own lives. Thus, there must be a “them” out there that is responsible for controlling things. Thus, the individual is off the hook for themselves.

The fact they project this onto single events (such as JFK or 9/11) or everything (Trilateral commission or the Illuminati) doesn’t change the underlying psychosis

LOL, you funny guy. Think in blocks. Have certificate of approval with gold star sticker. Cadre leader.

25 posted on 11/08/2015 11:19:41 AM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: Talisker

the research shows we have a whole host of biases built into our brains that shape and colour our perception and beliefs

Biases of color. Another persecuted minority?


26 posted on 11/08/2015 11:21:33 AM PST by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: PROCON
The Carson/pyramid story was...

A hermetically sealed analogy.

Shhhhhhhhh....

27 posted on 11/08/2015 11:22:48 AM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: PROCON

Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? TWA 800 and JFK


28 posted on 11/08/2015 11:23:40 AM PST by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton (Go Egypt on 0bama)
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To: PROCON

Love the moon landing ones and also TWA 800 .... two of the best.


29 posted on 11/08/2015 11:24:33 AM PST by SkyDancer ("Nobody Said I Was Perfect But Yet Here I Am")
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To: tet68
Where is the truth?

It's out there somewhere, your guess is as good as mine.

Now the Truth, that's another matter.

30 posted on 11/08/2015 11:25:50 AM PST by PROCON (Proud CRUZader!)
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To: PROCON

That sounds like a conspiracy to me.


31 posted on 11/08/2015 11:25:56 AM PST by Foundahardheadedwoman (God don't have a statute of limitations)
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To: tet68
the research shows we have a whole host of biases built into our brains that shape and colour our perception and beliefs

But bias is not necessarily unbalanced. The reason the brain creates biases is to call attention to importance, by de-camoflauging the hidden dangers of the world.

Leftists, being poisonous mind-predators, naturally are interested in sitting down this ability, and so have demonized bias because it identifies them as the enemy.

32 posted on 11/08/2015 11:27:44 AM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: SkyDancer

I recently chanced upon the Titanic Did Not Sink in 1912 conspiracy theory.

Quite fascinating.... Compelling actually. It was the Olympia that went down in a massive insurance fraud scheme. The Titanic sailed thru the 1930’s.

Seemed more reasonable than the iceberg theory... But then, makes little difference one way or the other.


33 posted on 11/08/2015 11:34:28 AM PST by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is libertye)
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To: discostu

Bs, Obie is a conspiracy from head to foot; otherwise he could not have destroyed this country to the extent that he has.

What about global warming, or the Democrat plan to hold office forever by using votes from immigrants, or the high level GOP TURNCOATS. Conspiracies - they’re everywhere. There’s none so blind as those who will not see.


34 posted on 11/08/2015 11:34:52 AM PST by .44 Special (Taimid Buarch)
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To: ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton

Ruby Ridge, Waco, Elian Gonzalez, OK city, 9/11, Bengazi—plenty of reasons to question the official storylines...

The biggest promoter of conspiracy theories is the government. The conspiracy brush is wide enough to get rid of all but the most pesky presumptuous peasants. After that, it gets personal.


35 posted on 11/08/2015 11:37:13 AM PST by antidisestablishment (If Washington was judged with the same standard as Sodom, it would not exist.)
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To: PROCON

[ Why are conspiracy theories so attractive?

There is not so much of a difference between conspiracy theorists and the rest of us. We are drawn to the idea of conspiracy because it resonates with us; we understand the idea of people being self-interested and not having our best interests at heart, and having hidden motives and getting together to do shady stuff. Conspiracy theories extend upon that and tap into these assumptions and fears we have about the world. But we all have them, that’s why conspiracy theories make sense to us all. ]

That lame ass reason is only responsible for less than 1/2 the reason WHY they are popular, the other half is all the DOCUMENTED times that the Government and media have conspired to hide the truth by twisting or just outright LYING about it.


36 posted on 11/08/2015 11:38:25 AM PST by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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To: PROCON

[ Why are conspiracy theories so attractive?

There is not so much of a difference between conspiracy theorists and the rest of us. We are drawn to the idea of conspiracy because it resonates with us; we understand the idea of people being self-interested and not having our best interests at heart, and having hidden motives and getting together to do shady stuff. Conspiracy theories extend upon that and tap into these assumptions and fears we have about the world. But we all have them, that’s why conspiracy theories make sense to us all. ]

That lame ass reason is only responsible for less than 1/2 the reason WHY they are popular, the other half is all the DOCUMENTED times that the Government and media have conspired to hide the truth by twisting or just outright LYING about it.


37 posted on 11/08/2015 11:38:26 AM PST by GraceG (Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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To: .44 Special

How many times have each of you said, ‘Follow the money.’

No conspiracies, Bwa-ha-ha-ha


38 posted on 11/08/2015 11:41:33 AM PST by .44 Special (Taimid Buarch)
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To: Talisker

39 posted on 11/08/2015 11:42:24 AM PST by PROCON (Proud CRUZader!)
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To: PROCON

The Grand Unified Conspiracy theory of Everything, may appear at some point on this thread.....or it may not.


40 posted on 11/08/2015 11:46:26 AM PST by moose07 (DMCS (Dit Me Cong San ) - Nah)
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