How to Spot COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories

Stephan Lewandowsky; John Cook; Ullrich K H Ecker; Sander Van Der Linden

How to Spot COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories

Stephan Lewandowsky^*, John Cook, Ullrich K H Ecker, Sander Van Der Linden

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/Report › Other report

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a fertile breeding ground for conspiracy theories. When people suffer a loss of control or feel threatened, they become more vulnerable to believing conspiracies. For example, the Black Death in the 14th century inspired anti-Semitic hysteria and when cholera broke out in Russia in 1892, blame fell on doctors and crowds hunted down anybody in a white coat.
How do we avoid being misled by baseless conspiracy theories? Conspiracy theories are identified by telltale thought patterns. Learning these patterns is key to inoculating ourselves and society against the corrosive influence of conspiracy theories.

Original language	English
Publisher	University of Bristol
Number of pages	4
Publication status	Published - May 2020

Research Groups and Themes

Cognitive Science
Language
Covid19
TeDCog

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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https://www.climatechangecommunication.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/How-to-Spot-COVID-19-Conspiracy-Theories.pdf

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title = "How to Spot COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories",

abstract = "The COVID-19 pandemic is a fertile breeding ground for conspiracy theories. When people suffer a loss of control or feel threatened, they become more vulnerable to believing conspiracies. For example, the Black Death in the 14th century inspired anti-Semitic hysteria and when cholera broke out in Russia in 1892, blame fell on doctors and crowds hunted down anybody in a white coat.How do we avoid being misled by baseless conspiracy theories? Conspiracy theories are identified by telltale thought patterns. Learning these patterns is key to inoculating ourselves and society against the corrosive influence of conspiracy theories. ",

author = "Stephan Lewandowsky and John Cook and Ecker, {Ullrich K H} and {Van Der Linden}, Sander",

year = "2020",

month = may,

language = "English",

publisher = "University of Bristol",

address = "United Kingdom",

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AU - Lewandowsky, Stephan

AU - Cook, John

AU - Ecker, Ullrich K H

AU - Van Der Linden, Sander

PY - 2020/5

Y1 - 2020/5

N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic is a fertile breeding ground for conspiracy theories. When people suffer a loss of control or feel threatened, they become more vulnerable to believing conspiracies. For example, the Black Death in the 14th century inspired anti-Semitic hysteria and when cholera broke out in Russia in 1892, blame fell on doctors and crowds hunted down anybody in a white coat.How do we avoid being misled by baseless conspiracy theories? Conspiracy theories are identified by telltale thought patterns. Learning these patterns is key to inoculating ourselves and society against the corrosive influence of conspiracy theories.

AB - The COVID-19 pandemic is a fertile breeding ground for conspiracy theories. When people suffer a loss of control or feel threatened, they become more vulnerable to believing conspiracies. For example, the Black Death in the 14th century inspired anti-Semitic hysteria and when cholera broke out in Russia in 1892, blame fell on doctors and crowds hunted down anybody in a white coat.How do we avoid being misled by baseless conspiracy theories? Conspiracy theories are identified by telltale thought patterns. Learning these patterns is key to inoculating ourselves and society against the corrosive influence of conspiracy theories.

M3 - Other report

BT - How to Spot COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories

PB - University of Bristol

ER -

How to Spot COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories

Abstract

Research Groups and Themes

UN SDGs

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