Conspiracy theories – such as those surrounding the death of Princess Diana – are more likely to be believed by people who are willing themselves to conspire, new research at the University of Kent has shown.
In a paper to be published in the British Journal of Social Psychology, Dr Karen Douglas and Dr Robbie Sutton, two researchers from the School of Psychology, found that – in keeping with the psychological process called projection – an individual’s perception that “I would do it” informs his or her perception that “they did it”…
The more that participants indicated a willingness to conspire, the more they found the same conspiracy theories to be plausible, interesting, and worth considering…Further, the researchers found that participants who were highly Machiavellian – defined as willing to exploit others for personal gain – were more likely to indicate willingness to conspire, and as a result, were more likely to believe in conspiracy theories…
‘We found that in their search for explanations under such uncertain and confusing conditions, people rely partly on projection – the assumption that others would behave much as they would.
Har.
Totally agree.
The Osama killing is a goldmine for politicians to exploit this phenomenon. In this case, no matter what evidence is produced or not, the opportunity to win over the tinfoilers is HUGE !
We’re talking at least 20% of the population.
#4 I’ll be you a nickel that Obama will submit one or two photos to pacify the tinfoilers. The result will be:
– GOP ‘outraged’ at the inflaming the Muslim community
– GOP congressman skeptical that pictures are authentic
I’m telling you, it’s a goldmine for the sheepherders.
@Taxed Enough Already…
Go stick your head up your ass. That way, when you spew your shit at least it will be in good company.
You mean its not just because they are shit in their pants stoopid? Well, that adds a whole new complexity to the issue.
Yes, projection of one’s values/experience ((rather than intelligence—evidently)) can be very useful:
1. Think you kiddie is doing drugs? Don’t ask them straight out, that just call for a lie. Instead ask them if any of their friends do drugs. Not a guarantee, but not a lie.
2. Same with spouses re affairs.
3. and so forth.
Saw this used way back when where the good guy threatens to carve the bad guys eye out with a pencil. The bad guy confesses in fear of the pain. Good guys buddy says “You’d have never done that, right?” and the good guy says “Of course not but he would have so he believed me.”
Lots of psychology goinf on all the time. Why are dogmatic people so resistant to even slight modifications??? Yes, its easier to believe.
Hurts to think.
@Taxed Enough…
At first I thought you were being funny and it gave me a chuckle-
After #8’s post I thought omg, could this guy be for real? Scary to think there are people who think like that out there.
But I’ve come to the conclusion that naw – you’re not that stupid. Instead, your trying to sway the roughly 20% who are easily influenced in an effort to put them to work against an administration you dislike. Very Machiavellian of you.
#9–Alfie==you think that is more credible than the simpler straight forward more common sense explanation huh? But you gotta go that way to denigrate Obama.
According to the header of this thread, you are more likely to think Obama is a liar because…………
What a dolt. Are you allowed to vote Alfie?
Actually, tards, it was me, I killed Osama. And, I have pics I took with my Iphone to boot!
#1 We have soldiers in Afghanistan trying to win/maintain the trust of the public. The mission depends on it. Does broadcasting a picture of Bin Laden with half his face blown off help or hinder that?
Why lie about this anyway? If Obama wanted a bump in his popularity he would have waited until a year from now. And why Bin Laden? He had long since disappeared from American consciousness, and it’s doubtful that he was wielding much power. He was basically in hiding. If the administration were to lie about something, why not job figures?
Just like the long form birth certificate, you’d have people coming out of the woodwork claiming that any Bin Laden photo was a fake.
There’s a subset of people who simply chose not to believe ANYTHING that Obama does even while many Republicans in a position to know do believe that A). Obama was born in the U.S. and B). That Bin Laden is really dead.
It doesn’t matter what Obama does or doesn’t do to try and pacify the conspiracy theorists. They won’t believe him anyway so the last thing he should do is pander to them.
Exactly #18
We have a buy opportunity.
http://indexmundi.com/commodities/?commodity=tin
@ taxed
At this point I count around 7 or 8 different posters in this thread. All have roughly the same view on this except you. Ah yes… the old 80/20 rule taking shape again. Seems Vilfredo Pareto knew what he was talking about.
TEADude, Eric Holder testified to Congress that Osama would not be captured alive, he would be killed.
There’s also the story from a few years ago that Osama’s bodyguards had decided to kill him to avoid being captured by the military, but then the US troops turned a different direction.
That’s why Democrats are always accusing Republicans of racism, fighting dirty, having secret plans to create October surprise, eliminate the opposition, etc.
I think the whole thing is a conspiracy.
America obviously doesn’t exist – FOX film it all on a back lot in Vancouver.
Looks like the first photos are starting to come out. Very disgusting.
http://thehostages.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/cropped-bin-lader.jpg
Basic training for seals is tough, but those that make it through can kick ass.
http://bit.ly/mMpYwx
Questioning your government is a responsibility paid for with blood. To not question authority disrespects that blood.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. – Thomas Jefferson
As a friend of mine used to say. No one loves a con as much as a con-man.
What’s wrong with you people? The REAL conspiracy theory is that CAMERAS do not exist. Only PHOTOSHOP exists. Therefore, ALL photos are faked. And THAT’S why NOBODY will show you their long-form PHOTO certificate!
(knock-knock)
Hang on a minute, somebody’s at the door….
Oh, my G….NO! NO!!
(thwap-thwap)
@ Taxed Enough Already Dude said,
Ok, you bash Obama we get it. You don’t like him. But do you REALLY think that the alternative would have been any better? I am no great fan of Obama but given the chose I had to vote for him. Palin is to stupid and self absorbed. McCain I don’t believe really knows what he wants. His ideas flip-flop all the time. This Obama Birth and other conspiracy stuff is pure garbage.
Here is your chance; please let us know who would be better? It is really easy to complain but much harder to offer some alternative. I’m guessing you have no one to put up against Obama but just love to bash him.
@ MikeN said, “That’s why Democrats are always accusing Republicans of racism, fighting dirty, having secret plans to create October surprise, eliminate the opposition, etc.”
What you said is true enough but remember the Republicans do the same thing. Both sides try to come off as saints but the reality is they both play dirty. Give me an honest/uncorrupted politician (ha-ha–Good luck) and I will vote for him or her in a minute. Regardless of side.
#24 My point was the if the Administration WERE to release actual photos the conspiracy theorists would just claim they were fake anyway, so why release them?
I’m fully aware that there are fakes floating around. The White House didn’t release those photos and never made any claims about their validity.
Taxed Enough Already Alfie has 15 of the 38 posts on this who is more susceptible to conspiracy theories topic, whats it all mean?
It was a covert op, yet the Internet Blowhard Community acts like it’s some sort of reality show. Those Seals must be laughing their butts off at all this blather.
Taxed Enough Already Dude said,
Rather than the image of a finger wagging Osama, the American people should have been given a photo of him dead in a pool of blood.
Why? What good would that do?
We are being denied that, because Obama & crew lied, and the photo proves it.
He was already dead, shot by his own bodyguards…
So if someone other than the American military shot him they couldn’t take a picture of him? Did his bodyguards have some magic bullets that made it impossible to take a picture of Osama and take credit for the shooting?
An anonymous seal gave the likely scenario on last night’s Mark Levin program.
And Howard E. Wasdin, who is a former member of SEAL Team Six http://us.macmillan.com/sealteamsix was on the Bob and Tom Show this morning and game several different reasons why they might have shot an unarmed Osama such as he was reaching for a gun, or they thought he had one, or they thought he was going to set off an alarm or an explosive.
This study is obviously a conspiracy to discredit conspiracy theorists.
#42
“such as he was reaching for a gun, or they thought he had one, or they thought he was going to set off an alarm or an explosive”
If I was Commander and Chief my orders would be if he is anything short of completely compliant shoot him in the head! I don’t want one more US life lost because of this guy. He could have gun under his pillow a button on his nightstand that would set off a bomb and blow-up the whole complex or lever that could release a net full of deadly scorpions from the ceiling. If he so much as sneezes shoot him in the head. I don’t even want Seal Dog 6 to be harmed if he attempts to kick the dog shoot him in the head. If he slowly lies on the floor with his hands behind his head like you ordered ok cuff him and bring him back any thing less shoot him in the head.
and I’m a basically peacenik
#45 OH Dude this thread on Conspiracy Theories is so you ‘enjoy
and another Conspiracy thing releasing a death photo, a burial at sea photo, or even the videos recorded from the helmet cams of the SEALs would not stop the conspiracies. those who will believe what they want to will just tell themselves is made up like that moon landing stuff was
Obama is right on this one and the afterbirther crowed proves it.