SHIP 30 FOR 30 SERIES

How do you Reach a Conspiracy Theorist?

The key is to understand why they chose to believe

People buy into conspiracy theories because they feel vulnerable and powerless.

There’s a certain type of person who follows cult personalities, seeks contrarian opinions, and embraces evangelical religions, and you’ll see the pattern again and again. Often they feel powerless and find their voice in these groups. They band together and feel a sense of power in sharing “knowledge” that the group possesses, but everyone outside the group doesn’t.

Often these are people who have made very bad decisions in their lives, and have suddenly found “the answers”.

The level of self-deception and denial is unbelievable because their entire identity is dependent on NOT seeing reality.

They have a compelling story they believe is true. Show them a better one that is more true.

The best way to reach friends and loved ones who have bought into conspiracies is to consistently share evidence-based information with the intent of helping, not disparaging.

Understand that this may be an exercise in futility if they are too locked into a cultlike mentality, but the best bet is to demonstrate the results of their decision-making process and establish a pattern showing them their thinking on such matters hasn’t yielded the results they want.

If a person who consistently made poor judgments in their lives were to suddenly embrace a cult religion, for example, they did so because they feel vulnerable and want a sense of power. Realistically, they won’t listen to reason, but show quantifiable evidence their lives have not improved through this decision.

They have a compelling story they believe is true. Show them a better one that is more true.

This is an Atomic Essay from the Ship 30 for 30 daily writing challenge.