HOORAY FOR COMMENTS.
I've enjoyed science most of my life, but I was always more open-minded than most, and was often able to detect falsehood and fraud in science and elsewhere, by using logic. So I have investigated a lot of alternative science and find that much of it is far superior to mainstream science. Probably the first alternative science theory I studied was the theory that Venus and Mars were very close to the Earth a few thousand years ago and caused major global cataclysms. I still consider that theory to be very probable. {See https://zzzzzzz.substack.com/p/cataclysmic-earth-history.} But the theory that aliens from planet Nibiru came to Earth and started civilization here I know to be highly improbable and likely fraudulent. I recently saw the following video that pointed out fraud in science, which was interesting. So I went to his video channel and checked out his video on conspiracy theories. Major turnaround. I only watched the first third of it, then went to the Comments. That was very refreshing. I first noticed the Comments under Youtube videos are often very Au contraire when I saw videos about Covid. Youtube banned videos that went against the mainstream BS, but it didn't ban frank Comments. And I noticed that almost all comments under Covid videos went against the grain, i.e. against the BS. Now I saw that the Comments under this guy's video are like that. There were maybe 10% who agreed with the author, but the rest disagreed. I thought you all might enjoy reading them. I like the sarcastic ones quite a bit. There's one that points out that Hitler's government was a conspiracy and I don't understand why liberals don't seem to grasp that. Someone points out also that unconventional ideas aren't really conspiracy theories usually. Several theories are discussed by some commenters too. I hope you all enjoy this.
Why Science Fraud Goes Deeper Than the Stanford Scandal
Believe It or Not? The Real Reasons We Fall for Conspiracy Theories!
SocialNeuro, 14.1K subscribers, 5.7K views, 11 months ago)
Exploring the Psychology of Conspiracy Theories: Dive deep into why people believe in conspiracy theories, their real-world impacts, and evidence-based techniques to assess their validity. Drawing from top social psychology research, this video sheds light on the allure of conspiracy thinking and offers a comprehensive guide to evaluate such theories critically.
@socialneuro, 11 months ago) I don't conduct research in this area myself, so I strongly recommend that you check out these recent articles if you'd like to learn more:
(2023). What are conspiracy theories? A definitional approach to their correlates, consequences, and communication. Annual Review of Psychology
(2023). Engaging with conspiracy theories: Causes and consequences. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
(2018). Relationships among conspiratorial beliefs, conservatism and climate scepticism across nations. Nature Climate Change
LET THE COMMENTS BEGIN
@user-tq9vz8qd6i 11 months ago) One aspect not mentioned, that really should be, is that the news media uses the term "conspiracy theory" to associate perfectly valid propositions like the lab-leak theory that are inconvenient to those in power with other blatantly unhinged and inconsequential theories like flat earth. This allows for a guilt by association is very useful tool for propagandists who have an interest to prevent social change. I think some of the points in this video are useful though, especially using primary sources and evaluating logical consistency.
@jonb4020 11 months ago) (edited) I find that independent thinkers and those more likely to take risks in life, or at least to accept that life entails some risk, tend to CONDSIDER theories that others would instantly dismiss. As one would expect, sometimes these theories are quite quickly dismissed as unlikely and the rest are investigated further according to the resources available to do this. Eventually, one hopes, a conclusion is reached as to whether any particular theory has merit or not, based on reason and evidence. Those with narrow or unenquiring minds who dismiss everything they disagree with as a conspiracy theory are not worth spending time with, in my view.
@eckyevans5437 11 months ago) I was watching with interest and waiting for the part where you touched on what to make of all the things branded as conspiracy theories by media and politicians that later turned out to be true, often things put forward by previously well respected doctors, researchers etc. It didn't come, then a recommendation to consult 'fact checking' websites which for the most part are funded and supported by people with a vested interest in the viewpoints they promote, checking carried out for the most part by low-level journalists, skilled and knowledgeable scientists and researchers aren't working for those sites, they're too busy with doing science and research. Snopes for example, the first one you mentioned is just a site started by a husband and wife who weren't and still aren't experts on anything in particular, who exactly makes such people the arbiters of truth? I had previously subscribed to your channel when some other stuff about academic data fraud, notably the Harvard and Stanford stories brought me to your vid, thought it might be interesting to see what else you put out, but this one is somewhat disappointing, there are SO many people branded as conspiracy theorists and spreaders of misinformation who are far from the sort of people you describe the typical conspiracy theorist as being, certainly not uneducated people, these things are so rife in particularly the media now it's become a standing joke. For balance those issues should have at least got a mention, the fact they didn't does make me wonder about the motive for this particular video.
@pfizerpricehike9747 11 months ago) It’s probably more a systematic problem in lack of terms for 3 types of conspiracy theories: -actual truths; -partial truths exaggerated or misused to tell a specific narrative; -complete disproven bs like flatearth. I fully agree with your criticism but I also think its fair to say he probably didn’t mean to put them all in one basket, given that those theories that turned out to truths can’t be disproven using the steps shown in the video. I think he is mostly speaking about those theories that are easily disproven, the fact that his wording makes it seem like he also could be disregarding actual facts is rather subjective caused by the media framing all conspiracies as negative instead of differentiating between those aforementioned three types. And yeah the linking to that specific fact checking site was a total fail, as are almost all so called “fact checkers”.
@DatcleanMochaJo 10 months ago) (edited) ... those fact sites are incredibly biased and will usually go after strawman arguments. Snopes, USA today and other sites will go after poorly worded arguments made by a minority of vocal people instead of debating facts made by more better worded arguments.
@eeriesnow 11 months ago) Among many other things in this video, I appreciate that you don't disparage the idea of conspiracy theories or people doing their own research altogether, but instead give genuine advice on how to research a topic. Sometimes there is something to a conspiracy theory, even if it isn't entirely correct. Dismissing the idea that something could be at play completely is an easy way to lose trust - often in larger events and tragedies, there is actually something going on under the hood, but not usually a grand intentional scheme. As someone very interested in manmade disasters and such, negligence or a broken system is usually to blame.
@richardhall5489 11 months ago) One of the factors you only touched upon was upregulated nervous systems. You did mention feelings of anxiety, powerlessness and a lack of control. In my experience higher stress levels lead to poorer quality thinking and decision making. This is a massive problem for our cultures and societies because governments, politicians, corporations, schools and many religious organisations use (subtle) fear-based communication to attempt to control us.
@HenriFaust 11 months ago) So-called fact-checking websites should never be consulted on matters of fact. These websites do not have any mechanisms in place for holding their staff accountable when they lie, like public comment sections, or expert peer review. Telling anyone to rely on fact-checking websites is extremely poor advice.
@simondevos7005 11 months ago) I think your main objective is to cut down Conspiracy theorist and free thinkers who actually decide for themselves. They don’t need you hold Your hand to make a decision, it’s a total insult where cannot express his views
@sovietcitizen9450 11 months ago) (edited) "fact-checking" is the most common way of deception nowadays.
@AlgoNudger 7 months ago) (edited) Believing today's fact-check and MSM is just like believing in Gregg Semenza and friends.
@gyattrizzV 6 months ago) I might need to rewatch the video since I watched it a few days ago but I was thinking about abductive reasoning today and I remembered what you said about conspiracy theory type things being an example of where a complicated nuanced situation is replaced with a very simple narrative that is appealing. I feel like there is some contradictory overlap between these two things because on one end we are saying that you should believe the thing that requires the least assumptions but it seems like in some cases the conspiracy theory would be the one that requires the least assumptions. I know that abductive reasoning is not some kind of 100% accurate rule that can never be wrong but this seems like dangerous advice especially because I assume you mean to consider all your assumptions from the ground up but it could be done in practice as just considering the new assumptions you would have to make. This would mean that once you already believe some conspiracy theories the following ones would require less assumptions since they would consider taking back something they already believe as a new assumption. I know you already said that you suggested multiple things and this is not the only way to judge a conspiracy I just would like to know your thoughts on this if in practice people who have not watched this video who do no research and are given just the advice to consider the number of assumptions might end up being worse off in this case.
@a.randomjack6661 11 months ago) Challenge what you believe, whoever you are. This article "The Top 10 Jobs That Attract Psychopaths" is where my understanding of social structures began. I keep pursuing with books, lectures and articles from historians, behavior specialists, philosophers (Socrates/Aristotle said wealth is addictive), how feed our ego on social medias, how we love to hate because it's the freeway to feel superior and righteous and that's why it's so much in propaganda.
And that politics = divide to rule. Take a look out of your silo.
@knutholt3486 11 months ago) (edited) These fires around the globe are abnormal. It is quite logical to think some underground project started them at several points at the same time. The conditions with dry weather over long time made that easy, but is not suficient cause for fires with these patterns. I am not sure what technolgy is talked about when they say directed energt weapon. It is possible to start such fires without that degree of sofistication. It is useful to be a conspiracy theorist, because you then can detect the dangers for yourself from real conspiracies in time to avoid these dangers. For example, what Hitler did was a conspiracy. Those jews that detected the symptoms and saw the patterns early, that is the conspiracy theorists among them, often saved their life.
@tugilevy8139 11 months ago) Considering that cognitive dissonance is an acknowledged instrument of power, is the claim about the apparent absence of democracy a knowledge or conspiracy argument? Is the pointed feeling of the lack of power at the time of the crisis a cause or consequence of the crisis? Since "truth" is, in the language of neoliberal administration and after James, “what is good in a way of belief”, is the lack of knowledge a cause or consequence of the social crisis? The implied paradox is in the fact that we accept something as knowledge and deny or assert the significance of human agency according to and when it suits our interests. In "post-truth" social theory, where there is no "common interest", there can be no valid use of the term "we". Or, to put it in different, Nietzschean terms, the word "we" is an instrument or the mode of expression of power.
@darioplant8029 11 months ago) (edited) Well, in the end COVID 19 came out from a Lab. as most of us claimed, and not from a Bat Cave as the offcial voice spread, not to mention the man eating a "bat-soup" in a food market, making him the patient zero of the Pandemia. But, what can I really now?
@Acetyl53 11 months ago) This video is more about your own psychology.
@patharvard 11 months ago) A note on the “Climate Catastrophe Theory.” The vast majority of those who objects to it, 1.) believe that human activity is contributing to the warming of the planet. 2.) we should be researching and developing alternative non-petroleum energy sources. 3.) we know that humans have adapted to changing climatic conditions and will adapt to them in the future. 4.) using the word “crisis” is an overstatement regarding the foreseeable challenges we face. For example, it was during the Cambrian Period (541–485.4 million years ago) that the greatest profusion of life exploded upon the planet, including carbonaceous life, such as corals and brachiopods. In fact, this period is called, by paleontologists, the “Cambrian Explosion.” During the Cambrian Period, CO2 levels averaged 4,500 parts per million (ppm), with peak CO2 levels as high as 7000 ppm. Today, CO2 is measured at 425 ppm, which is 1/11th of the average atmospheric CO2 of the Cambrian Period. The logic is obvious here, that if the much higher CO2 levels of the past lead to an ideal environment for the evolution and fertility of life, why would we expect higher CO2 levels to be inimical to life now. I have yet to come up with a rebuttal to this line of reasoning. It seems to me that the only coherent way to make such a claim would have to be based on an assertion that the laws of physics and chemistry have changed, fundamentally from past earth history. While the fact that life thrived during the Cambrian Period, with CO2 levels at an average of 4,500 ppm, if we look at all of the history of life on Earth, paleo climatology proxy studies indicate that the average level of CO2, since life began has been significantly higher, with life a thriving Eden. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambrian
@simondevos7005 11 months ago) Answer me this question, did a Rocket launch in Maui Hawaii?
@rustymason3860 11 months ago) I always trust the official story because I want to blend in with the herd, and I can always blame someone else when the official story is proven false.
@carpo719 11 months ago) While I do agree with your assessment on conspiracies in general I don't think it's too far of a stretch to think that a virus was created in a lab when that very City it came from has a laboratory that studies that specific type of virus. There's always a little truth to conspiracies.
@danieloutloud9151 11 months ago) I had put some stock in your words previously but , you've thoroughly changed my mind . If the way things are working come to be seen in a particular light it isn't because we're all hapless boobs wandering in the wilderness longing for answers but , we've done our own solid research and found the situation to exist contrary to public stances taken by the Government . You've called anything standing against the official lines to be "conspiracies" that making them false and any who follow them brainless idiots , without any knowledge or personal means of discerning truth . You fully boxed and classified most of the populace as people without vision or knowledge . This entire talk is designed to reign in any dissent and tell us "sheep" to fall in line and lets not be naughty . So you make a very nice tool for Government control .
@Mnihoi 11 months ago) appeal to authority kids, follow the official narrative! conspiracy theories are a oversimplification of reality but at the same time please choose the simplest explanations as long as it is approved by the establishment. Don't worry, to conspire is not in human nature anymore and also not possible in such compartmentalized society.
@rodrigoponcedeleon1458 9 months ago) First and foremost, I want to thank you for the videos and content you upload; they are very interesting. I would like to know your thoughts on a few matters. I find it striking that in your argument against this topic, you focus on the most implausible theories. The idea of COVID being connected to 5G is utterly absurd and quite evident, but the notion that COVID might have been created is another theory you don't discuss, possibly because it's more challenging to debunk. The other thing I would like to invite you to reflect upon is whether the same confirmation biases apply to you or to anyone who doesn't want to believe in a conspiracy theory?
@LNVACVAC 11 months ago) Anyone who has any knowledge on Armed Forces PsyOps and Bioweapons Operations also realises most conspiracy theories have great doses of truth even if they are not necessariry accurate representations of the whole truth. And that Psychology Researchers on Conspiracy Theories ignore Nation States History of Human Rights Violations including inside Psychology Research.
@erik5007 2 days ago (edited) I was considering subscribing to your channel, I saw this video and thought; this will be the decider. Having seen the video, I have decided to NOT subscribe. Here's why: 1. Why do people believe (not fall for) conspiracy theories. Because conspiracies exist! 2. Since we know conspiracies exist, evidence and rational reasoning is what separates the silly ones from the true ones. 3. Conspiracy theories are fun and interesting. 4. Belief in conspiracy theories likely increases as trust in power decreases. Once some conspiracies are proven right, how many more unproven are there? 5. The corrupt clearly uses the conspiracy theory tinfoil hat argument against people with legitimate concerns. Which further reduce trust in the people in power. 6. You make the cardinal error of using the Covid 19 lab leak theory in the context of people being wrong. If you were serious about things, you would recommend weighing arguments for vs against a claim. In the case of the lab leak theory, the case of it coming from a lab is stronger than the case of it coming from nature. But you don't bother making your case. And the motive for why folk in power would want to hide their involvement is also very strong. The pandemic cost lives and insane amounts of money. If China would admit it came from their lab, and the USA would admit they outsourced and funded it, despite banning gain of function research on home ground, then they are potentially liable. To evaluate conspiracy theories one must look to; evidence, rational thinking and motive. The conspirators will do what they can to protect themselves and dismiss anyone trying to prove them corrupt. This is just humans being humans, as a psychologist I would assume you to understand that.
@patricksullivan1827 11 months ago) I love the flat earth one. Especially since most people can't explain or prove that the earth is round. Its actually hard to debunk tbh. It is an easy way to show how people have blind faith. Most people in my experience who dismiss a conversation because of conspiracy theory operate there lives mostly with blind faith. Also they are very often stuck in stage 3 collectivism development from piagets theory et al. One doesn't have to believe to listen! But if we listen we can include... Dismissing is a huge problem in our society. Fear management does not work. Anyone notice in our society the last few years?!
@gitfoad8032 11 months ago) I don't get it why you'd push a negative opinion in the eg. you chose about covid origin, climate-change deniers, & link them to flat-earthers. I sense a standard ideological fortress - very much an article in a flimsy semi-glossy at the checkout.
@PirateRadioPodcasts 11 months ago) A - b/c MOST of them are true :)
@louisalexandre33 11 months ago) You got right and left conspiracy theories, for exemple climate changes, you can either dismiss chaotic climate variations and go for anti-woke conspiracies, or endorse apocalyptic climatic events and go for anti-capitalism conspiracies. Same for gmos or alternative medecines, right wing will go to snake oil mom and pap doctors while left wing will go to untested exotic woo-woo medecine. Reason requires reasoning, but reasoning come with biases, so being precautious while reasoning is really important.
@Dziaji 11 months ago) The reason is because most of them are true. Unintelligent people have trouble figuring that out.
@creativecatalyst777 1 month ago) Pity you cannot or will not explain the working patents of D.E.W. laser based weapons and other patents which H.A.A.R.P. weapons hold. Perhaps that's why almost nobody watches or subscribes to your content. I'd say much more, but I don't want to be rude or cause a problem. You are a very nice and polite man, but so are several serial killers. The devils are not without their charms. Good luck and blessings
@TreeLuvBurdpu 11 months ago) (edited) The "human carbon footprint" IS A CONSPIRACY THEORY.
@BGlasnost 10 months ago) (edited) Thanks for the video! I do notice a bit of lazy generalization taking place here, however. First of all, you are using the term "conspiracy theory" when what you actually mean is "unconventional belief". The idea that bigfoot exists is not a conspiracy theory and the idea that corporations pay politicians under the table to write policies in their favor IS a conspiracy theory, but modern people switch these around because the term no longer matches its literal definition. People don't like using the term "unconventional belief" because it sounds less crazy, and in western culture we definitely want people who espouse unconventional beliefs to sound crazy. Also, like most people who discuss this subject you are unfortunately leaving out the most important reason that people believe in conspiracy theories, which is that there has been a titanic amount of lying and fraud that has taken place in absolutely all authoritative arenas of human culture. The damage done to society by this is incalculable, and it is not surprising that the lies of authority figures will lead people to doubt the proclamations of other authority figures. The fact that many scientific institutions in the US have been relegated to the level of ignoble servants of corporations makes many of their "settled conclusions" rightfully suspect! I would argue that people who simply "believe" one way or another, regardless of whether it's conventional or unconventional beliefs, possess the psychological tendencies that you list in the video. However, those who simply allow themselves to seriously consider unconventional ideas but do not necessarily "believe" one way or another do not possess those tendencies that you list. It is interesting to note here that nearly all people in the west make a lazy conflation between these two types of people - those who uncritically believe in unconventional ideas and those who think such ideas are worthy of consideration and discussion, and not simply dismissal and ridicule. In other words, if a person considers the existence of alien life as a subject worth serious consideration and not simply dismissal and ridicule, then that person is automatically relegated to the "believer" camp, even though he does not actually believe. This video is essentially a nice way of saying conspiracy theorists are psychologically ill, but as always these types of discussions completely ignore the immense level of psychological illness that exists in regular conventional society. As Krishnamurti said, "It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society." There are many actually valid reasons that people take "conspiracy theories" seriously, other than that they are less rational people who desperately need explanations and can't handle complexity. This doesn't mean that the ideas are true, it means that there exist rational reasons to take these ideas seriously and place them in the realm of serious discussion. All scientific breakthroughs began as unconventional ideas. It is actually harmful to scientific progress to conflate unconventional ideas with the lazy and almost meaningless trigger phrase "conspiracy theory".
@snorttroll4379 11 months ago) Baaaaa
@theJellyjoker 21 hours ago) I want the truth! All y'all won't give me the all the information. Y'all tell me "it's not relevent" but it has turned out to be very relevent.
@snorttroll4379 11 months ago) Sometimes the people saying oChams RaZor {Occam's Razor} dont include all that we know
@donomar4815 11 months ago) As a conspiracy theorist I will use those 11 steps to confirm or to prove that some theories are definitely true. The most dangerous conspiracies anyways are those that are not hidden, that you can identify with open sources and mainstream medias. One just need to have some codes and clues to connect the dots.
@AEX-rk4lg 11 months ago) Would you dare applying your 11 steps to "we went to the moon"?
@chongochishimba6207 11 months ago) (edited) Im not falling for this I mean I'm not falling for this channel ️
@robguyatt9602 11 months ago) Have you any idea how such titles taint the value of your content from the outset. The Real.... The Truth About.... etc.
@MeeCee5204 11 months ago) "Conspiracy theories" often turn out to be true.
@cyn7869 11 months ago) Maybe we should stop using the now politicized terms like conspiracy theory. People ideas, beliefs and theories, all of which are open to discussion and debate. Chasing truth and following evidence should be encouraged but recently calling something a conspiracy theory or someone a conspiracy theorist is simply a way of shutting a conversation down. It was also interesting how you mentioned “occupation of buildings” while showing a picture of people with their fists raised with a fiery background. Very clever. Similar to the reporters standing in cities with fires started by antifa raging behind them saying it was “mostly peaceful.”
@rwnrealworldnews8752 11 months ago) You stated that you have overwhelming scientific evidence against Level Earth. So give us one Scientific Method proven hypotheses, without any logical fallacies. Go.
@sew.8359 11 months ago) Lol I can't comment - it keeps getting censored it seems.
@snorttroll4379 11 months ago) Did the israelis kill jfk vecause of the dimona thing? Also about those jabs, who took em?
@00bmx1 11 months ago) There are directed energy weapons in space. That is not crazy. Making that part seem crazy is dishonest.
@HiroProtaganist 11 months ago) No, but they do have some straight up awful critical thinking skills and in my experience rarely any desire to change that. Once you go down the rabbit hole it's hard to come back.
@snorttroll4379 11 months ago) Truth is not measured by how many scientists say something. It is about what the data says. Also about the climate stuff. It is not a problem it is just a power grab.
@snorttroll4379 11 months ago) What a way to dismiss peoples logic and observations.
@TheRoundandround 11 months ago) DEAR ADDLEBRAINED, LOOK UP WHO, OR RATHER, WHICH AGENCY COINED THE TERM, WHAT FOR, AND HOW THEY INTRODUCED IT. THEN YOU CAN TALK...
@maxxsee 11 months ago) Question, do you blieve 'the new's'? If you don't then I guess you're a 'conspiracy theorist'. Why don't you talk about why people fall for 'the news' because they are so afraid their own world would start to crumble if they knew how screwed up things really are. Ofcourse you won't mention that will you?
@cancatcannothaz 11 months ago) no matter what, we never went to Earth & the moon is flat!
@reedbender1179 10 months ago) So,are you a "Conspiraphobe"? The intersection between Corruption, Fraud and Conspiracy in business,politics and history undermines your tepid presentation.Kindly do a book review on Machiavelli's work entitled "Conspiracy" and let us know what you think !