Question

Why are people easily fooled by false information, why are we gullible to advertising, or to conspiracy theories and superstition s? Give an example from your own experience, more than 250 words.

Answer 1

Answer.

beliefs can be very hard to change, but this is specially true for conspiracy theories and beliefs in superstitions, etc. one potential reason for people’s strong and unchanging belief in a conspiracy theory is the relative lack of information and low control in the specific field.

When people do not have sufficient evidence or lack the ability to exert any personal influence in changing the outcomes of a situation, they are more likely to observe others and use their attitudes , beliefs or rationality as a baseline to determine their own actions, responses and perspectives. Thus, observation and imitation provides a strong basis for underlying why people fall prey to superstitions. For instance, our increasing dependence on technology and machines often to the point of curbing any independent thinking has led us to believe the ‘scientific claims’ that machines are capable of feeling and thinking exactly like human beings and that artificial intelligence can replicate a human being in its algorithm. This has led us to be increasingly suspicious of any scientific developments in artificial intelligence as we buy into the belief that human beings are replaceable by machines. People have a natural tendency to be suspicious of groups that are powerful and potentially hostile. However, a feeling of control could help dispel some conspiratorial beliefs.