Conspiracy Theories and Anxiety in Culture: Why Is Threat-Related Misinformation an Evolved Product of our Ability to Mobilize Sources in the Face of Un-represented Threat?

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F62690094%3A18460%2F24%3A50020807" target="_blank" >RIV/62690094:18460/24:50020807 - isvavai.cz</a>

Výsledek na webu

<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00483931231210335" target="_blank" >https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00483931231210335</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00483931231210335" target="_blank" >10.1177/00483931231210335</a>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Conspiracy Theories and Anxiety in Culture: Why Is Threat-Related Misinformation an Evolved Product of our Ability to Mobilize Sources in the Face of Un-represented Threat?

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

Conspiracy theories, often perceived as an epistemic phenomenon, consistently exhibit recurring themes or “tropes,” hinting at a socially adaptive origin. This paper proposes that the proclivity to conspiracy theories is rooted in our evolved capacity to communicate warnings about unrepresented threats, a fusion of threat-detection psychology and error management theory. Importantly, the most compelling conspiracy theories typically conform to these identifiable tropes, which are marked by their evolutionary validity. These tropes are particularly appealing as they consist of cues that align with our evolved cognitive structures. The proclivity for conspiracy theories intensifies during periods of social instability, positioning conspiracy theories as a symptom, rather than a cause, of societal unrest. This perspective emphasizes that the tendency towards conspiracy theories is an evolutionary response to perceived threats and coalition-building, rather than a flaw in reasoning. Consequently, efforts to mitigate the spread of conspiracy theories should prioritize strengthening democratic institutions and reducing societal instability, rather than enforcing media restrictions.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Conspiracy Theories and Anxiety in Culture: Why Is Threat-Related Misinformation an Evolved Product of our Ability to Mobilize Sources in the Face of Un-represented Threat?

Popis výsledku anglicky

Conspiracy theories, often perceived as an epistemic phenomenon, consistently exhibit recurring themes or “tropes,” hinting at a socially adaptive origin. This paper proposes that the proclivity to conspiracy theories is rooted in our evolved capacity to communicate warnings about unrepresented threats, a fusion of threat-detection psychology and error management theory. Importantly, the most compelling conspiracy theories typically conform to these identifiable tropes, which are marked by their evolutionary validity. These tropes are particularly appealing as they consist of cues that align with our evolved cognitive structures. The proclivity for conspiracy theories intensifies during periods of social instability, positioning conspiracy theories as a symptom, rather than a cause, of societal unrest. This perspective emphasizes that the tendency towards conspiracy theories is an evolutionary response to perceived threats and coalition-building, rather than a flaw in reasoning. Consequently, efforts to mitigate the spread of conspiracy theories should prioritize strengthening democratic institutions and reducing societal instability, rather than enforcing media restrictions.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

60301 - Philosophy, History and Philosophy of science and technology

Projekt

—

Návaznosti

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Rok uplatnění

2024

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

Philosophy of the social sciences

ISSN

0048-3931

e-ISSN

1552-7441

Svazek periodika

54

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

2

Stát vydavatele periodika

US - Spojené státy americké

Počet stran výsledku

34

Strana od-do

99-132

Kód UT WoS článku

001099468000001

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-85176308496