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iemitsu

(3,891 posts)

34. I think you are confusing conspiracy theories with cognitive dissonance.

Mon May 27, 2013, 01:42 AM

May 2013

Conspiracy theories develop when official explanations don't jibe with the evidence or when some people think that the two don't fit. In this situation, sensible people look for answers that do make sense. Those, who don't want them looking, call them conspiracy theorist nuts to discredit their search for the truth. Considering an alternate explanation when the official one seems unlikely to be true is seeking the truth.
Cognitive dissonance is being introduced to information that is proven to be true but, if accepted as fact, means that everything you previously based your understanding of the world on, is false. Many, in fact most, will reject the new, proven truth and cling even more tightly to the discredited, old truth. This is probably a natural defense mechanism that is triggered when, as you say, they need to postpone rethinking how they see the world. This is avoiding the truth, not seeking it.
The motives for conspiracy theories and for cognitive dissonance are the opposite.

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Why Rational People Buy Into Conspiracy Theories [View all] meow2u3 May 2013 OP

There *are* no rational people. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #1

^this^ Viva_La_Revolution May 2013 #3

Wait just a second. You dont really believe that last sentence, you are just pretending rhett o rick May 2013 #9

Amen. All of us have brains that play tricks on us. Taverner May 2013 #32

I am quite content in my irrationality. kentauros May 2013 #38

I'm not. I find the idea of being literally unable to work out when I'm wrong terrifying. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #39

This is exactly right AngryAmish Jun 2013 #54

I dunno. I think it's just a matter of being the "comfort food" of inner thoughts Populist_Prole May 2013 #2

can I believe in some conspiracy theories and not others? Jake Izzy May 2013 #4

Kick and Rec...nt SidDithers May 2013 #5

Why irrational people buy into conspiring to be impossible. Rex May 2013 #6

Correction: cprise May 2013 #12

+100000000000000. We're supposed to believe that our leaders are nice people who would never HiPointDem May 2013 #16

The CT label is used some times here in DU to bully posters into shutting up. rhett o rick May 2013 #20

i'd say it's used that way 99% of the time. HiPointDem May 2013 #25

Yes, I agree. One prominent poster suggested that those posting CT get immediately PPR'd. rhett o rick May 2013 #31

Yes it is, and it isn't the only label used to do so. n/t Skip Intro Jun 2013 #51

after reading this article I thought of "just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out KittyWampus May 2013 #24

+1 MotherPetrie May 2013 #27

Yes that is far more accurate. Rex May 2013 #17

Because sometimes they happen? whatchamacallit May 2013 #7

A "false flag" claim is useful whenever someone sees something, hughee99 May 2013 #8

I think you are confusing conspiracy theories with cognitive dissonance. iemitsu May 2013 #34

Whenever something occurs, like the Marathon bombing, hughee99 May 2013 #40

Rational people want the world to make sense starroute May 2013 #10

"Conspiracy theory" is used as an instrument of logical fallacy cprise May 2013 #11

'conspiracy theorist' is a pejorative thrown at anyone who questions policy or actions markiv May 2013 #13

When authority is mistaken for truth, truth loses its authority Eddie Haskell May 2013 #33

Conspiracy theories are the result of unbelievable official accounts. iemitsu May 2013 #14

What does one call Judy Miller's Iraq WMD reports in the NYT, if not conspiracy theory? leveymg May 2013 #15

It is something to ridicule by those that live in a black and white world. Rex May 2013 #18

Binary Thought Syndrome: Official Pronouncement - (Truth); unauthorized thought- (conspiracy theory) leveymg May 2013 #21

Conformist: One who has to follow what's 'In' in order to gain popularity and have a life. Eddie Haskell May 2013 #30

I wonder how long that Gulf of Tonkin thing ran as official truth Whisp May 2013 #36

"Buy into" may not be fair, but lots of people recognize that conspiracies abound rhett o rick May 2013 #19

My mom is a successful attorney. Worked, raised me and went to law school BY HERSELF Number23 May 2013 #22

Wow. Not doubting you but...wow. randome May 2013 #28

What she is really telling you... CanSocDem Jun 2013 #50

Humans look for patterns as part of our makeup. Starry Messenger May 2013 #23

And yet this NYT article doesn't have the guts to even mention THE elephant in the room stopbush May 2013 #26

The well is so poisoned for a purpose. Whisp May 2013 #37

JFK RobinA Jun 2013 #47

I'm conflicted on conspiracy theories rightsideout May 2013 #29

conspiracy theories vs criminal endeavors sigmasix May 2013 #35

+1 nt arely staircase May 2013 #42

Do you mean like this one from Woodrow Wilson? BridgeTheGap Jun 2013 #46

. snagglepuss May 2013 #41

Many of the common conspiracy theories you hear are recycled John Birch Society nonsense stevenleser May 2013 #43

birchism was a movement dedicated to CT sigmasix May 2013 #45

That's what they want you to believe. CJCRANE May 2013 #44

Like when NYT puts Judy Miller's bogus WMD stories on page 1? Octafish Jun 2013 #48

! whatchamacallit Jun 2013 #49

"conspiracy theory" is a phrase frequently used to discredit healthy critical thinking. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #52

Imagine my relief... CanSocDem Jun 2013 #53

I think it is because of a desire to know everything. alp227 Jun 2013 #55

Or to know exclusive information siligut Jun 2013 #56