“But It’s the Only Possible Explanation” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Joe Pierre notes that “For politicians–especially those with authoritarian tendencies–conspiracy theories can serve as propaganda that exploits the psychological needs of a voting populace.” He goes on to list six of the ways that conspiracy theories can sway dis coarse discourse:
- To malign opponents
- To sow mistrust in authoritative sources of information
- To deflect blame
- To create “us and them” narratives
- To portray oneself as a victim or an anti-establishment candidate
- To incite or justify violence
Follow the link for a detailed discussion of each of these items and ask yourself if any of them sound something in today’s news.
