PTE

• Conspiracy theories


  Normally accepted because they provide a sense of control by providing an explanation to a distressing event
• The 5G network conspiracy theory was popular because it linked two things that appeared correlated - the rollout of 5G and the pandemic</b>
• The 5G network conspiracy theory was also supported and promoted by celebrities with large social media followings, influencing millions of people
• Conspiracy theories


  Provide explanations that put people in control
• Reasons why conspiracy theories are more appealing than the truth

  • More entertaining
  • Simple and easy to pass on
  • Provide a villain to blame for life's problems
  • Confirm and support biases
  • Provide certainty in an uncertain world
  • Allow people to feel they have it all wrapped up
• Conspiracy theories are more explanations of feelings rather than the world
• Deep desire that makes people insist a conspiracy theory is true

  To appear clever and get attention
• Cognitive biases and needs that contribute to belief in conspiracy theories

  • Intentionality bias
  • Proportionality bias
  • Causality bias
  • Need for closure
  • Need for control
  • Need for uniqueness
  • Confirmation bias
  • In-group bias
  • Dunning-Kruger effect
  • Backfire effect
  • Anchoring
• Explanation for why people believe conspiracy theories

  • We assume things happen due to people's choices and malicious intent
  • We like to think there are easy-to-understand reasons for everything
  • We don't like waiting for solutions and prefer to have things solved right away
  • We like to think we can stop bad things from happening again
  • We like to think we're special and not like everyone else
  • We tend to ignore information that challenges our preconceptions
• Soldier mindset


  Defending beliefs by fighting for them
• Scout mindset


  Changing beliefs based on the truth
• The scout mindset is better as it results in an open mindset
• Barriers to accepting the truth about the 2020 US election being legitimate include supporters identifying with Trump and not wanting to challenge this part of their identity
• Plato's allegory of the cave teaches a message of moral truth - the prisoners gain less truth from the shadows than they would from the outside world, and the escaped prisoner represents the philosopher who seeks the truth using reason
• Karl Marx claimed that the rich elites (bourgeoisie) use religion to suppress and placate the disconnected poor (proletariat) so they won't rise up against them
• Religion


  Fulfils wishes by promising a better life after the current one, e.g. heaven for Christians or moksha for Hindus
• Many of our beliefs are not provable but are still important and expressed in religion, so they seem sensible to accept
• Positive teachings of religion

  • Everyone is equal
  • Show compassion to those less fortunate
  • Don't value material wealth too much
  • Life is valuable
• Marx, Freud, and Dawkins have criticised religion as a harmful belief system
• Conspiracy theories and extremist communities can appeal to people who feel they have finally found a group they agree with
• Deradicalisation can happen through showing empathy towards other views on social media
• Christianity has historically only had male leaders
• Misogyny


  The hatred of women
• Examples of misogyny in society today

  • Gender pay gap
  • Issues with criminal law and rape cases
  • Sexualisation of women on social media
  • Influencers like Andrew Tate promoting anti-feminist views
• Andrew Tate's misogynistic views may be driven by a need to justify his actions towards partners and a desire to appear superior
• Cognitive biases like anchoring and the Dunning-Kruger effect likely contribute to the popularity of Tate's views
• Laura Bates has experienced sexist comments, objectification, and assault, which makes her feel upset but also "used to it"
• Women may feel unable to speak out about sexism due to feeling the world doesn't care and feeling belittled
• Conspiracy theories can be harmful as they can radicalize future generations to be abusive and misogynistic
• Identity and belief


  Beliefs can become bound up with one's identity, leading to defensiveness or pride when those beliefs are challenged
• Minority-held beliefs that lead to embattled feelings are not necessarily false
• Popular beliefs that turn out to be wrong can also lead to proud majorities finding it hard to accept their mistake
• Soldier mindset


  Holding onto beliefs not because they're true, but because they're needed for acceptance
• Scout mindset


  Committing to choosing and changing beliefs based on their truth, rather than group identity
• The promise of a utopia, dissatisfaction, and the impact of social media are causes of conspiracy theories
• Conspiracy theories can lead to dangerous acts, broken relationships, and increased polarization in society
• Social media can spread anger and faction instantly, posing a threat to democracy
• Cancelling someone can have benefits of calling out bad behavior, but can also be problematic
• Genetic diversity, even when it brings suffering, can lead to valuable outcomes, as seen in the cases of Van Gogh and Stephen Hawking
• Van Gogh likely suffered from some form of manic depression, a condition with a genetic component that could be eradicated through the application of genetic engineering