Exposure to conspiracy theories correlates with unethical behavior

[essentialsaltes]

In a first study, the findings indicated that people who believed in conspiracy theories were more accepting of everyday crime, such as trying to claim for replacement items, refunds or compensation from a shop when they were not entitled to do so.

In a second study, exposure to conspiracy theories made people more likely to intend to engage in everyday crime in the future. The researchers found that this tendency was directly linked to an individual's feeling of a lack of social cohesion or shared values, known as 'anomie'.

The second study is very interesting in that it shows that just exposure to conspiracy theories can prime people towards more antisocial attitudes.

 

[Strathos]

I'm really not surprised.

 

[timothyu]

The second study is very interesting in that it shows that just exposure to conspiracy theories can prime people towards more antisocial attitudes.

Well they won't like Jesus then. He brought an upside down Kingdom and called the world of man backwards. No wonder the religion at the hand of man reversed itself and rejoined the world of man. Can't have that anti-social thinking rocking the human boat. Why in no time, without reversing Christianity the masses would have overturned the system and the elite in no time.

 

[Lazarus Short]

Well they won't like Jesus then. He brought an upside down Kingdom and called the world of man backwards. No wonder the religion at the hand of man reversed itself and rejoined the world of man. Can't have that anti-social thinking rocking the human boat. Why in no time, without reversing Christianity the masses would have overturned the system and the elite in no time.

Yes indeed - Jesus' routing of the moneychangers and dove sellers in the Temple was quite the antisocial act. Where would we be without the antisocial Jesus?

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

In a first study, the findings indicated that people who believed in conspiracy theories were more accepting of everyday crime, such as trying to claim for replacement items, refunds or compensation from a shop when they were not entitled to do so.

In a second study, exposure to conspiracy theories made people more likely to intend to engage in everyday crime in the future. The researchers found that this tendency was directly linked to an individual's feeling of a lack of social cohesion or shared values, known as 'anomie'.

The second study is very interesting in that it shows that just exposure to conspiracy theories can prime people towards more antisocial attitudes.

It sounds like a variant of in-group vs out-group bias; they question why they should conform to rules of a society that is lying to them.

E.T.A. There is a similar effect (though less pronounced) when people are given a talk explaining why free will doesn't exist - they tend to be more antisocial while the idea is fresh in their minds. Unlike the conspiracy theorists, it tends to wear off quite quickly.

 

[timothyu]

Where would we be without the antisocial Jesus?

Same placed we are now. But he'll change that soon.

 

[timothyu]

It sounds like a variant of in-group vs out-group bias; they question why they should conform to rules of a society that is lying to them.

How un-compliant of you, lol

 

[timothyu]

The elite of mankind, be they secular or religious, demand loyalty. Jesus said take it or leave it. Either way there will be reward related to the choice.

 

[dzheremi]

I'm not surprised at this one, so I don't have much to say about the OP.

Correlations are fun to look at more generally, though. Google led me to this:

Seems legit. I know I always want to kill myself over the prospect of doing math.

 

[CodyFaith]

Sounds like a good way to discredit people and control people through fear

 

[pitabread]

But he'll change that soon.

Not in our lifetimes if history is anything to go by...

 

[timothyu]

Not in our lifetimes if history is anything to go by...

Well the elite know that we know their game so it kind of balances things out for now.

 

[Justatruthseeker]

In a first study, the findings indicated that people who believed in conspiracy theories were more accepting of everyday crime, such as trying to claim for replacement items, refunds or compensation from a shop when they were not entitled to do so.

In a second study, exposure to conspiracy theories made people more likely to intend to engage in everyday crime in the future. The researchers found that this tendency was directly linked to an individual's feeling of a lack of social cohesion or shared values, known as 'anomie'.

The second study is very interesting in that it shows that just exposure to conspiracy theories can prime people towards more antisocial attitudes.

What constitutes a conspiracy theory?

Like let’s say scientists ran 15 tests for a hypothetical substance and got null results every time.

Would it be a conspiracy theory on behalf of the scientists to keep claiming the hypothetical substance is real? Or would it be a conspiracy theory on the part of those claiming it wasn’t real based upon the null results and they just didn’t accept the word of the experts?

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

What constitutes a conspiracy theory?

"A conspiracy theory is the fear of a nonexistent conspiracy or the unnecessary assumption of conspiracy when other explanations are more probable." Wikipedia​

Like let’s say scientists ran 15 tests for a hypothetical substance and got null results every time.

Would it be a conspiracy theory on behalf of the scientists to keep claiming the hypothetical substance is real? Or would it be a conspiracy theory on the part of those claiming it wasn’t real based upon the null results and they just didn’t accept the word of the experts?

No to both. A conspiracy is a secret plan or agreement between two or more people for an unlawful or harmful purpose.

 

[Ana the Ist]

In a first study, the findings indicated that people who believed in conspiracy theories were more accepting of everyday crime, such as trying to claim for replacement items, refunds or compensation from a shop when they were not entitled to do so.

In a second study, exposure to conspiracy theories made people more likely to intend to engage in everyday crime in the future. The researchers found that this tendency was directly linked to an individual's feeling of a lack of social cohesion or shared values, known as 'anomie'.

The second study is very interesting in that it shows that just exposure to conspiracy theories can prime people towards more antisocial attitudes.

Not really that surprising...

I always felt like people were believing in conspiracy theories to either validate beliefs they already held...or deal with the cognitive dissonance from evidence that was contrary to beliefs they already held.

A conspiracy theory, much like religious claims, needs no real evidence to give the believer that feeling of superiority that comes from understanding "what's really going on".

People who have little else that's positive in their lives end up deeper and deeper in a bubble. To use a common phrase....they consider themselves "woke" while everyone else is either naive, ignorant, or in on "it".

 

[NeedyFollower]

Not in our lifetimes if history is anything to go by...

There does to seem to be a change in humanity though . With more learning and education , there appears to be less humility and I am not even aware that young people are being taught to seek wisdom . ( Not to be confused with knowledge . ) Granted we have much less superstition but what is the trade-off ? People are living longer but they still die . How about meekness ? The ability "not to know " . And love does not seem to be trending in a good direction . Seriousness of mind ...sober minded ...able to engage in deep conversations . That would make me wonder if this is the last generation of man.

 

[Justatruthseeker]

"A conspiracy theory is the fear of a nonexistent conspiracy or the unnecessary assumption of conspiracy when other explanations are more probable." Wikipedia​

No to both. A conspiracy is a secret plan or agreement between two or more people for an unlawful or harmful purpose.

If you know about it to call them conspiracy theorists then their conspiracy isn’t very secret, now is it..... but even your citation didn’t say that at all.

Harmful as in taking billions of your tax dollars????

What other explanation would there be besides their refusal to use the correct physics for a universe 99.8% plasma, like we use in every plasma laboratory?

 

[Justatruthseeker]

Not really that surprising...

I always felt like people were believing in conspiracy theories to either validate beliefs they already held...or deal with the cognitive dissonance from evidence that was contrary to beliefs they already held.

A conspiracy theory, much like religious claims, needs no real evidence to give the believer that feeling of superiority that comes from understanding "what's really going on".

People who have little else that's positive in their lives end up deeper and deeper in a bubble. To use a common phrase....they consider themselves "woke" while everyone else is either naive, ignorant, or in on "it".

Couldn’t agree more. Dark Matter fits that to a T.

 

[pitabread]

There does to seem to be a change in humanity though . With more learning and education , there appears to be less humility and I am not even aware that young people are being taught to seek wisdom .

Nah, that is just a consequence of getting older. Complaining about the younger generation is as old as history itself.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Couldn’t agree more. Dark Matter fits that to a T.

I've no doubt you think so.