History shows that in times of uncertainty people love to draw their own conclusions.
This is how conspiracy theories are born, explains the author and cultural historian American Colin. Dickey.
Fear, paranoia, loneliness and the desire for control in often uncontrollable circumstances lead to the spread of conspiracy theories, he told ABC program RN Late Night Live.
And while social media may have accelerated its accessibility, the obsession with collaborating with they began long before the advent of the Internet.
Fear and the first conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories in the United States date back to hundreds of years. years, says Dr. Dickey, whose latest book is "In the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy."
On the birth of democracy. "[In the United States] there was the idea that there were foreign agents, secret saboteurs and seditious spies," he says, turning into paranoia among Americans. From 1775 to 1783, some colonists believed the French were secretly orchestrating a war to divide and conquer Great Britain.
But Victoria Pagan, of the University of Florida , which studies conspiracy theories in the ancient Roman world, goes even further back and says it was as early as 331 BC. In 200 BC, during the spread of an unknown plague, there are records of a health conspiracy theory in ancient Rome that a circle of women poisoned people.
Similarly, a 14th-century conspiracy theory promoted by some in Europe As the bubonic plague spread across the world, that Jews were poisoning wells, says Dr. Païen.
Conspiracy theories are often rooted in the fear of others, says Dr. Dickey.
"The CIA was worried that the Chinese had discovered some kind of mind control drug and therefore wanted to be arrested," he says.
So they began testing these drugs on unsuspecting American citizens, which they said “did nothing scientific.”
This proved extraordinarily counterproductive. Following revelations that the US government was "secretly giving people LSD to try it" and "spying on Martin Luther King", the US government was increasingly seen as a source of conspiracies rather than a target, Dr. Dickey. .
The Eye
Another example of a conspiracy theory that has gotten out of hand is the theory surrounding the Eye of Providence . a common Christian symbol that appeared on the U.S. dollar bill in 1862.
The symbol was also used by the Freemasons, a 14th-century fraternal organization. . The iconic triangular symbol with an eye in the center has contributed to a number of conspiracy theories, says Dr Dickey.
“There's nothing wrong in this. » malicious or nefarious “But the problem with these symbols is that they last much longer than their real meaning. " he said.
Dr. Dickey said his last words. Over the course of six or seven decades, people began to associate the symbol with the Illuminati, a group which some theorists believe to be conspiratorial, controls world affairs.
The Bavarian Illuminati, which operated between 1776 and 1786, was originally a small secret society that opposed to religious influence in society. However, some conspiracy theories claim that the Illuminati still exists and has spread to take power throughout the world.
Who is at risk of believing?
Researchers have long speculated about the kinds of people attracted to conspiracy theories.
Some studies suggest that people with highly intuitive and analytical minds have more likely to believe it, or the lack of education and the ability to question and verify the veracity of the information also play a role.
But no one is completely safe from this, says Jolanda Jetten, director of the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland.
And he says conspiracy theories are “as widespread here in Australia as they are in the US”, especially since the COVID-19 lockdown.
Research cannot adequately explain why, especially in recent times of uncertainty, "so many people are suddenly embracing these conspiracy theories," says -il.
However, there is often a common element among those who delve into the flaws of the conspiracy.
They are often “very lonely people”, explains Professor Jetten.
“They are often on the margins of society and have a lower status. And by actually believing in these conspiracy theories online and having others that they believe in, you create a kind of community and you stand out in a positive way because you know things that the rest of us don't know. "
The consequences of uncertainty
Professor Jetten says that people sometimes feel an ego boost because they believe in theories of conspiracy. But it can also be quite isolating for them. (Unsplash: Thom Holmes)
"If there's one thing we all fear, it's uncertainty," says Professor Jetten.
And for some, conspiracy theories can help deal with the situation.
"When there is instability or when mass events occur for which we have no explanation," “Conspiracy theories are often useful, something that can help us understand the world,” he said.
Dr. Dickey agrees.
He says a conspiracy theory can give the illusion of a sense of order, and "Even if that order seems harmful or scary, it is always more comforting than the idea of chaos and chance."
It is estimated that more than half of the American population believes in some sort of conspiracy theory.
"Depending on how the questions are asked, between 50 and 75 percent of Americans agree with at least one statement that is widely accepted as a conspiracy theory " he says uh .
As an example, he cites the idea "that 9/11 [the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York] was an inside job ; popular", as well as the theory of "lizard people", which assumes that an alien reptilian race is hiding behind the world elites.
Protecting the truth
Axel Bruns, professor at the Digital Media Research Center at the Queensland University of Technology, has witnessed theories conspiracies of the surrender of the United States in Australia
In 2020 he participated in a research project that analyzed the spread of disinformation on networks at the beginning of the COVID pandemic -19. 19, with a particular focus on conspiracy theories about 5G mobile technology.
5G theories existed before the pandemic, but then they became “literally all-in-one ”” . " he said.
"The Illuminati, the Antichrist, Bill Gates, [Hungarian-American businessman] George Soros, the Great Reset, the UN... everything else "Basically everything you could imagine was included in this... group of conspiracy theories that didn't need to make sense."
Professor Bruns says social media platforms need to do more to stop the spread of conspiracy theories.
He admits it's a task difficult and claims that there is an ongoing “arms race in the global market”. move” between platforms. and people trying to spread misinformation.
"I understand to some extent that [the platforms] are chasing this because of where we we find in this constant vortex "of misinformation" on all kinds of topics. And we saw it with the vocal campaign," he says.
But it does not allow platforms to impose their will.
Professor Bruns says that they should do more, and there is at least one clear course of action: deplatform (delete or suspend accounts) prominent figures who share conspiracy theories or misinformation.
“De-platform work. This does not completely remove the information. “This does not completely disrupt the flow of problematic information… but it reduces visibility and significantly limits access to this problematic content,” he says.
” So , at least it protects the majority of the population quite well.
Read Also : How have the Japanese learned to live with earthquakes?
Maryam Loni
History shows that in times of uncertainty people love to draw their own conclusions.
This is how conspiracy theories are born, explains the author and cultural historian American Colin. Dickey.
Fear, paranoia, loneliness and the desire for control in often uncontrollable circumstances lead to the spread of conspiracy theories, he told ABC program RN Late Night Live.
And while social media may have accelerated its accessibility, the obsession with collaborating with they began long before the advent of the Internet.
Fear and the first conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories in the United States date back to hundreds of years. years, says Dr. Dickey, whose latest book is "In the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy."
On the birth of democracy. "[In the United States] there was the idea that there were foreign agents, secret saboteurs and seditious spies," he says, turning into paranoia among Americans. From 1775 to 1783, some colonists believed the French were secretly orchestrating a war to divide and conquer Great Britain.
But Victoria Pagan, of the University of Florida , which studies conspiracy theories in the ancient Roman world, goes even further back and says it was as early as 331 BC. In 200 BC, during the spread of an unknown plague, there are records of a health conspiracy theory in ancient Rome that a circle of women poisoned people.
Similarly, a 14th-century conspiracy theory promoted by some in Europe As the bubonic plague spread across the world, that Jews were poisoning wells, says Dr. Païen.
Conspiracy theories are often rooted in the fear of others, says Dr. Dickey.
"The CIA was worried that the Chinese had discovered some kind of mind control drug and therefore wanted to be arrested," he says.
So they began testing these drugs on unsuspecting American citizens, which they said “did nothing scientific.”
This proved extraordinarily counterproductive. Following revelations that the US government was "secretly giving people LSD to try it" and "spying on Martin Luther King", the US government was increasingly seen as a source of conspiracies rather than a target, Dr. Dickey. .
The Eye
Another example of a conspiracy theory that has gotten out of hand is the theory surrounding the Eye of Providence . a common Christian symbol that appeared on the U.S. dollar bill in 1862.
The symbol was also used by the Freemasons, a 14th-century fraternal organization. . The iconic triangular symbol with an eye in the center has contributed to a number of conspiracy theories, says Dr Dickey.
“There's nothing wrong in this. » malicious or nefarious “But the problem with these symbols is that they last much longer than their real meaning. " he said.
Dr. Dickey said his last words. Over the course of six or seven decades, people began to associate the symbol with the Illuminati, a group which some theorists believe to be conspiratorial, controls world affairs.
The Bavarian Illuminati, which operated between 1776 and 1786, was originally a small secret society that opposed to religious influence in society. However, some conspiracy theories claim that the Illuminati still exists and has spread to take power throughout the world.
Who is at risk of believing?
Researchers have long speculated about the kinds of people attracted to conspiracy theories.
Some studies suggest that people with highly intuitive and analytical minds have more likely to believe it, or the lack of education and the ability to question and verify the veracity of the information also play a role.
But no one is completely safe from this, says Jolanda Jetten, director of the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland.
And he says conspiracy theories are “as widespread here in Australia as they are in the US”, especially since the COVID-19 lockdown.
Research cannot adequately explain why, especially in recent times of uncertainty, "so many people are suddenly embracing these conspiracy theories," says -il.
However, there is often a common element among those who delve into the flaws of the conspiracy.
They are often “very lonely people”, explains Professor Jetten.
“They are often on the margins of society and have a lower status. And by actually believing in these conspiracy theories online and having others that they believe in, you create a kind of community and you stand out in a positive way because you know things that the rest of us don't know. "
The consequences of uncertainty
Professor Jetten says that people sometimes feel an ego boost because they believe in theories of conspiracy. But it can also be quite isolating for them. (Unsplash: Thom Holmes)
"If there's one thing we all fear, it's uncertainty," says Professor Jetten.
And for some, conspiracy theories can help deal with the situation.
"When there is instability or when mass events occur for which we have no explanation," “Conspiracy theories are often useful, something that can help us understand the world,” he said.
Dr. Dickey agrees.
He says a conspiracy theory can give the illusion of a sense of order, and "Even if that order seems harmful or scary, it is always more comforting than the idea of chaos and chance."
It is estimated that more than half of the American population believes in some sort of conspiracy theory.
"Depending on how the questions are asked, between 50 and 75 percent of Americans agree with at least one statement that is widely accepted as a conspiracy theory " he says uh .
As an example, he cites the idea "that 9/11 [the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York] was an inside job ; popular", as well as the theory of "lizard people", which assumes that an alien reptilian race is hiding behind the world elites.
Protecting the truth
Axel Bruns, professor at the Digital Media Research Center at the Queensland University of Technology, has witnessed theories conspiracies of the surrender of the United States in Australia
In 2020 he participated in a research project that analyzed the spread of disinformation on networks at the beginning of the COVID pandemic -19. 19, with a particular focus on conspiracy theories about 5G mobile technology.
5G theories existed before the pandemic, but then they became “literally all-in-one ”” . " he said.
"The Illuminati, the Antichrist, Bill Gates, [Hungarian-American businessman] George Soros, the Great Reset, the UN... everything else "Basically everything you could imagine was included in this... group of conspiracy theories that didn't need to make sense."
Professor Bruns says social media platforms need to do more to stop the spread of conspiracy theories.
He admits it's a task difficult and claims that there is an ongoing “arms race in the global market”. move” between platforms. and people trying to spread misinformation.
"I understand to some extent that [the platforms] are chasing this because of where we we find in this constant vortex "of misinformation" on all kinds of topics. And we saw it with the vocal campaign," he says.
But it does not allow platforms to impose their will.
Professor Bruns says that they should do more, and there is at least one clear course of action: deplatform (delete or suspend accounts) prominent figures who share conspiracy theories or misinformation.
“De-platform work. This does not completely remove the information. “This does not completely disrupt the flow of problematic information… but it reduces visibility and significantly limits access to this problematic content,” he says.
” So , at least it protects the majority of the population quite well.
Read Also : How have the Japanese learned to live with earthquakes?