The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories

We've had many conversations in the past 2 months about the psychological impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. One of these was the increased emergence and seeming popularity of conspiracy theories. During our first ever virtual pub psychology session we've touched on the topic and there's clearly a lot more to say, discuss and explore, so we've decided to dedicate this session to the psychology behind conspiracy theories, why they are attractive, how they emerge how they sustain themselves despite often very little to no evidence. And even more importantly, are all conspiracy theories conspiracy theories?

We've got 2 special guests on our panel this month whom we've invited due to their expertise in the psychology of consiracy theories (Dr. Daniel Jolley) and spread of information (David Mahoney).

To start us off, Dr Daniel Jolley will give us a short overview of the psychology of conspiracy theories. You will learn why people subscribe to conspiracy theories and discuss some of the misconceptions (including whether all conspiracy believers are paranoid!). He will also uncover some of the potentially damaging consequences of conspiracy theories; maybe they are not just harmless after all, before discussing ongoing research into tools that seek to combat the negative harm of conspiracy theories on individuals and wider society.

This will be followed by a discussion among the panel and open to comments from and debate among the rest of the pub. Please be mindful that we'll focus on the psychology behind these theories, rather than debating whether there is particular merit or truth in any particular theory. We'll moderate accordingly to avoid getting sucked into any rabbit holes. I'm sure you'll appreciate that.

HOW TO JOIN:

We'll be sending out the password to access our virtual pub (http://bit.ly/PubPsychology) on the day of the event to ticket holders only, so please make sure you're signed up rather than dropping in on the day as you might do for our usual sessions. You will need to download the Zoom app if you are using a phone or tablet. For Laptops, just click the link and follow the instructions.

HOSTS & PANELISTS:

Dr. DANIEL JOLLEY is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Northumbria University. He is a Chartered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society, where he is a member of the Executive Committee of the Social Psychology Section. Daniel’s main area of research is the psychology of conspiracy theories. He is particularly interested in using experimental methods to examine the social consequences of exposure to conspiracy theories and test tools to alleviate the negative impact of conspiracy theories on the individual and wider society. Daniel has co-authored articles in outlets such as PLoSONE, the British Journal of Psychology and Political Psychology and has received funding from research bodies such as the British Academy. You can read more about Daniel’s work on his website (www.danieljolley.co.uk) or Twitter (@DrDanielJolley).

DAVID MAHONEY is an Entrepreneur who has two businesses. He is the Founder of the Wellbeing Sciences Group which (via its two brands Executive Science and Fulfilment Science) is developing a science-led holistic wellbeing and personal development platform. The other, www.WeAreTheNews.com, is a news based social media platform with citizen led journalism at its core, giving the world its voice in the way social media was always supposed to. Prior to this Mr Mahoney had a successful career in Executive Search and recruitment where he worked with some of the world’s biggest companies across 5 continents.

Dr. NASH POPOVIC is a senior lecturer at the University of East London and runs www.personalsynthesis.com (which gives you access to a world of practical knowledge for the price of a cup of coffee!)

YANNICK JACOB is an existential coach, positive psychologist, coach trainer & supervisor (www.existential.coach)