Times of crisis can make people more susceptible to conspiracies, especially when experiencing social isolation and loneliness. The combination of a breakup during a global pandemic led Jane Sun to gravitate towards conspiratorial thinking. The shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and feelings of powerlessness contributed to this shift. The breakup prompted Jane to reimagine his identity, leading to vulnerability to conspiracy theories. Pulling someone out of such beliefs is challenging, with uncertain prospects, as stated by a social psychology professor.
So you've got a loved one who's fallen deep down the conspiracy rabbit hole. Are they destined to stay there forever?
Today, we hear from a former conspiracy theorist and a social psychologist on what fuels these beliefs, how likely people are to change their minds, and what you can (and can't) do to help.
Want to listen to more All in the Mind? Check out our episode, The Certainty Myth.