Debunking conspiracy theories: The resilience of the Republic - YouTube
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Conspiracy theories thrive even in resilient democracies — here's the psychological and sociological science explaining why debunking them is harder than it looks.
Backfire EffectMotivated ReasoningEpistemic BubblesSocial Identity Theory
Theory Briefing
- Conspiracy theories persist despite factual rebuttals, illustrating the 'backfire effect' where corrections can entrench false beliefs further.
- Democratic resilience is tested when misinformation spreads faster than institutions can counter it, revealing a structural vulnerability in open societies.
- Debunking efforts must reckon with motivated reasoning — people accept or reject evidence based on identity, not logic.