Conspiracy Theorists Have a Fundamental Cognitive Problem, Say Scientists

[Quixote1818]

The world’s a scary, unpredictable place, and that makes your brain mad. As a predictive organ, the brain is on the constant lookout for patterns that both explain the world and help you thrive in it. That ability helps humans make sense of the world. For example, you probably understand by now that if you see red, that means that you should be on the lookout for danger.

But as scientists report in a 2017 paper published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, sometimes people sense danger even when there is no pattern to recognize — and so their brains create their own. This phenomenon, called illusory pattern perception, they write, is what drives people who believe in conspiracy theories, like climate change deniers, 9/11 truthers, and “Pizzagate” believers.

The study is especially timely; recent polls suggest that nearly 50 percent of ordinary, non-pathological Americans believe in at least one conspiracy theory.

Illusory pattern perception — the act of seeking patterns that aren’t there — has been linked to belief in conspiracy theories before, but that assumption has never really been supported with empirical evidence. The British and Dutch scientists behind the new study are some of the first to show that this explanation is, in fact, correct.

More: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/conspiracy-theorists-have-a-fundamental-cognitive-problem-say-scientists?utm_source=fbsynd&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR2TREnmiMVY9rllJPFDBEfkCPxWqrVPE6DdUt8SPzYTokmykqd8sFlc3Co

[niyad]

1. KNR

[Walleye]

2. I think that could be the basis for racial prejudice and sexism.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. Good Article

Nice find, Don!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Is that a scientific way of saying "just fucking stupid"?

[unitedwethrive]

5. But, be careful not to conflate conspiracy theorists for critical thinkers.

This happens all the time, even here on DU. At various times I have been accused of being a conspiracy theorist for offering ideas on Trump's health, Trump's taxes, Tara Reade's motivations, and most recently the May job numbers.

I believe that part of the reason that the repubs push some of the crazy conspiracy theories, is so that they can gather quotes of our side saying how dangerous and unfounded such ideas are, and then use those moments against us whenever we question their behavior. This is exactly how we got into trouble in the aftermath of the 2016 election, after knocking down Trump's claims that the election was rigged for months, no Democratic spokesperson felt comfortable coming out and saying the election was manipulated by the Russians until it was too late.

[Quixote1818]

7. Agreed. nt

[sanatanadharma]

6. Congruent with Advaita Vedanta teachings (sourced in the Vedas of India))

In the human condition we all project our own subjective perceptions upon the (relatively) objective world.
Seeing the rainbow in the mist is fine. Seeing qAnon in the myth is madness.

The projecting is due to the ignorance of the nature of our transactional reality, plus desires, fears and memories.
Along a continuum, there is a socially acceptable range of subjectivity. To be too completely into one's-self is outside of socially acceptable. Thus, norms, rules, laws, hospitals and jails in societies.
Being too subjective can be delusional.

The dawn or dusk light barely reveals, to our eyes, the lanyard on the lawn. Our subjectivity projects the venomous viper in our view. And the fear that comes only goes when one objectively knows the snake in the grass.