Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Public Inquiry >>
Promoting Human Rights in IrelandHuman Rights in Ireland >>
Dons Back University of Buckingham Vice-Chancellor ?Ousted For Anti-Woke Views? Fri Dec 06, 2024 11:00 | Toby Young
Senior academics at Buckingham have sent a legal letter to the University Council criticising it for not following due process before suspending the Vice-Chancellor following vexatious allegations from his estranged wife.
The post Dons Back University of Buckingham Vice-Chancellor ?Ousted For Anti-Woke Views? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Smoggie Queens Shows How Far BBC Comedy Has Fallen Fri Dec 06, 2024 09:00 | Steven Tucker
Smoggie Queens shows how far BBC comedy has fallen, says Steven Tucker. Let's be honest, there's only one reason the corporation made this awful TV programme, and it's certainly not because it's funny.
The post Smoggie Queens Shows How Far BBC Comedy Has Fallen appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
In Episode 22 of the Sceptic: Sam Bidwell on Britain?s Open Borders, Fleur Meston on the ?Assisted D... Fri Dec 06, 2024 07:00 | Richard Eldred
In Episode 22 of the Sceptic: Sam Bidwell on Britain?s open borders experiment, Fleur Meston on the "assisted dying" Bill and Madeline Grant on the parliamentary class of 2024.
The post In Episode 22 of the Sceptic: Sam Bidwell on Britain?s Open Borders, Fleur Meston on the ?Assisted Dying? Bill and Madeline Grant on the 2024 Parliamentary Class appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
News Round-Up Fri Dec 06, 2024 01:14 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
We Should Have Done Nothing Thu Dec 05, 2024 19:33 | Martin Sewell
Five years on, it's clear that lockdowns were the greatest health economics mistake in modern history, says Martin Sewell. We would have been better off doing nothing.?Next time, we should keep calm and carry on.
The post We Should Have Done Nothing appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Lockdown Skeptics >>
Voltaire, international edition
What is changing in the Middle East , by Thierry Meyssan Tue Dec 03, 2024 07:08 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N?110 Fri Nov 29, 2024 15:01 | en
Verbal ceasefire in Lebanon Fri Nov 29, 2024 14:52 | en
Russia Prepares to Respond to the Armageddon Wanted by the Biden Administration ... Tue Nov 26, 2024 06:56 | en
Voltaire, International Newsletter N?109 Fri Nov 22, 2024 14:00 | en
Voltaire Network >>
international |
miscellaneous |
opinion/analysis
Saturday January 21, 2012 17:01
by Rob Brotherton
printable version
Digg this
del.icio.us
Furl
Reddit
Technorati
Facebook
Gab
Twitter
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (3 of 3)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3I am a believer in some of the wilder Conspiracy Theories, like the one that they made up the story about Weapons of Mass Distruction in Iraq...... I know, 'crazy' right! Coming in at number 645 on my list of conspiracies is the belief that our ESRI here in Ireland is just a Government mouthpiece, using it's 'scientific' research to provide proof for whatever the Government policy of the day is. The ESRC which you are working for on this 'survey' would be a sister organisation to our own ESRI
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/
So, no thanks, I don't want to give you an insight into my psychology because ..... well.... lets just say I don't think our governments are working for the general good of our populations and more specifically I seriously doubt they are studying the very people who question their incessant lies to help us. Help demonise us morelike.
1. Would it be fair/accurate or correct to say that you are conducting research into the psycholoogy of conspiracy theorists, as opposed to the psychology of conspiracy theories? It may seem like a semantic point, however, I think it is important.
2. Can you let me know the context of your research: what is the title/subject matter of your Phd?
3. Is the model/theory you are using a social one or a therapy-type, individual psychological state-type one?
4. What is your definition-for the purposes of your research-of a conspiracy theory?
Thanks.
Hi there, huge thanks to whomever posted this here for me, and massive thanks to anyone who has filled in the survey.
To respond to the questions above...
1. While I wouldn't say I'm looking at the psychology of 'conspiracy theorists', it is certainly correct to say I'm looking at people's beliefs rather than at conspiracy theories themselves. My work has no implications for the objective truth of any particular claim of conspiracy, nor is it intended to. Rather I'm interested in how people come to hold the beliefs that they do, whether it is believing a conspiracy or disbelieving a conspiracy.
2. My entire PhD is concerned with belief (and disbelief) in conspiracies
3. My research methods are based in experimental psychology - experimental in the sense that I conduct empirical research, as opposed to offering therapy. I'm look for general trends in the population, rather than examining individuals.
4. The definition of conspiracy theory is a complex issue! The short answer is 'the assumption of conspiracy when other explanations are more probable'. If you have 25 minutes to spare you can listen to me speak about defining conspiracy theory in much greater depth here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6s_Jw3RU9g