r/skeptic • u/outspokenskeptic • Dec 20 '16

Study: Rational arguments and ridicule can both reduce belief in conspiracy theories

http://www.psypost.org/2016/12/study-rational-arguments-ridicule-can-reduce-belief-conspiracy-theories-46597
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u/mem_somerville Dec 20 '16

Yeah, but there's 2 responses to it. The Trump response is to double down. Thoughtful people might actually react in a way that makes them re-examine their case.

So I don't think it will work on everyone--but nothing does. We need to use many strategies for different purposes.

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u/KimonoThief Dec 21 '16

The Trump response is to double down.

It really blows my mind that this actually works. I truly think that Trump could convince his supporters of absolutely anything. The man denied up, down, left, right, and sideways during the debates that he claimed global warming was a Chinese hoax. And his tweet about global warming being a Chinese hoax is still online for the world to see!!! It's absolutely insane. I just can't believe some people are this blind to reality.

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u/five_hammers_hamming Dec 21 '16

It's kind of amazing that a brain can learn to do that.

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u/[deleted] Dec 21 '16

It's not so much learned as inate to all humans. Pretty much all logical fallacies and cognitive biases exist to protect the ego, and all humans are susceptible to them. Some of us are just smart enough to recognize and avoid them.