Conspiracy Theories in the Core of Discussion about COVID-19
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46991/BYSU:D/2022.13.2.059Keywords:
coronavirus, disinformation, conspiracy theories, information, social media, international politicsAbstract
Partially justified, intentionally directed and unreliable conspiracy theories are real challenges on the way to control and overcome modern crises. In parallel, the role of information technologies is growing in the all spheres of human lives, which means that the quality of information and technologies predetermines the quality of human resources, accordingly also the level of development of modern societies and the perspectives of their future evolution. The brilliant example may serve actively disseminated disinformation along with conspiracy theories in time of Covid-19, which is linked to different international and local actors. The article discusses the theory and practice of anti-scientific conspiracy theories and stresses the negative influence of such theories on formation of public thinking and direction of public behavior.
References
Douglas, K. M., & Sutton, R. M. (2011). Does it take one to know one? Endorsement of conspiracy theories is influenced by personal willingness to conspire. // British Journal of Social Psychology, p. 50.
Einstein, K. L., & Glick, D. M., (2015), Do I think BLS data are BS? The consequences of conspiracy theories. // Political Behavior, doi:10.1007/s11109-014-9287-z, p. 37․
Fetzer J.; Information: Does it have to be true? Minds and Machines, 14(2), May, 2004, 223–229 pp
Franks, B., Bangerter, A., & Bauer, M. W., (2013), Conspiracy theories as quasi-religious mentality: An integrated account from cognitive science, social representations theory, and frame theory. // Frontiers in Psychology, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00424, p. 4.
Grigoryan A., (2020), Disinformation and Other Tools of Antidemocratic Influence: An Armenian Outlook in the EU and Eastern Partnership Context, EaP Monthly Bulletin. https://centreforpolicystudies.org/gallery/CPS_EaP_bulletin2.pdf
Jolley, D., & Douglas, K. M., (2013), The social consequences of conspiracism: Exposure to conspiracy theories decreases intentions to engage in politics and to reduce one’s carbon footprint. // British Journal of Psychology, doi:10.1111/bjop.12018, p. 105.
Jolley, D., Meleady, R., & Douglas, K. M., (2019), Exposure to intergroup conspiracy theories promotes prejudice which spreads across groups. // British Journal of Psychology. doi:10.1111/bjop.12385.
Kovic, M., & Füchslin, T., (2018), Probability and conspiratorial thinking. // Applied Cognitive Psychology, doi:10.1002/acp.3408, p. 32.
Lewandowski, S., Oberauer, K., & Gignac, G. (2013). NASA faked the moon landing—therefore (climate) science is a hoax: An anatomy of the motivated rejection of science. // Psychological Science, p. 24.
Lewandowsky, S., & Cook, J., (2020), The Conspiracy Theory Handbook, p. 3// The Conspiracy Theory Handbook | Center For Climate Change Communication
Sapountzis, A., & Condor, S., (2013), Conspiracy accounts as intergroup theories: Challenging dominant understandings of social power and political legitimacy// Political Psychology, doi:10.1111/pops.12015, p. 34.
Steven, L․, & Krasenberg J., (2017), Dealing with fake news, conspiracy theories, and propaganda in the classroom,” Ran Centre of Excellence, Budapest.
Swami, V., Coles, R., Stieger, S., Pietschnig, J., Furnham, A., Rehim, S., & Voracek, M. (2011). Conspiracist ideation in Britain and Austria: Evidence of a monological belief system and associations between individual psychological differences and real-world and fictitious conspiracy theories. // British Journal of Psychology, p. 102.
Uscinski J․ E. &. Parent, J․ M․, (2014), American Conspiracy Theories // Oxford University Press․
Uscinski, J. E., & Parent, J. M., (2014), American conspiracy theories. // Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Author(s) and the Journal Political Sciences:Bulletin of Yerevan University
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.