The second edition, updated throughout and now including Covid-19 and the 2020 presidential election and aftermath, introduces students to the research into conspiracy theories and the people who propagate and believe them. In doing so, it addresses the psychological, sociological, and political sources of conspiracy theorizing.
Anomaly:A Scientific Exploration of the UFO Phenomenon reveals new results derived from radar, optical sensors, and scientific instruments, rather than speculating on unreliable eyewitness testimony. This scientific approach provides the reader with clear and reliable answers, something that is desperately needed in the murky field of UFOs.
Life Stressors, Powerlessness, and Extreme Beliefs
Using a survey of 977 US citizens, this book explores who? and why? individuals sometimes adopt conspiracy beliefs. The authors evaluate a three-step psychological sequence in which individuals experiencing intense life stressors, combined with powerlessness, have increased risk for extreme beliefs, which they argue is due to cognitive coping.
In recent years, growing national and international networks are challenging the two dominant 'emergency' narratives that relate to the Covid pandemic and Climate Change. It was the experience of Covid, and the co-ordinated global response that involved suppression of the virus's laboratory origins, fast-tracking of mRNA vaccines, lockdowns, ......
One Man's Unexpected Journey Down the Rabbit Hole of Lies, Trolls, and Conspiracies
Have you been keeping your eye on your grandma lately? Have you been calling her enough? You sure she's not spending too much time on YouTube? Is she talking fondly of dictators? Has she suddenly started quietly muttering in the Aldi queue about the "Jewish Space Lasers" she's heard are setting wildfires around the world to make sure everyone ......
Folklore and the Role of Conspiracy Theory in Contemporary Society
Whispers in the Echo Chamber: Folklore and the Role of Conspiracy Theory in Contemporary Society makes the case that conspiracy theories are fundamentally a folklore genre, akin to and often involving other belief narratives like rumor and legend. The editors and contributors show that studying conspiracy theories using the tools of folkloristics ......
Metaliteracy and other Strategies for an Information-Disordered World
This book will explore the issue of information disorder in our society, explore how conspiracy theories are shaping citizen engagement with information and reality, and weave throughout how metaliteracy and information literacy can be utilized to produce a more democratic, civil discourse. It provides a desperately needed look at the problems of ......
Metaliteracy and other Strategies for an Information-Disordered World
This book will explore the issue of information disorder in our society, explore how conspiracy theories are shaping citizen engagement with information and reality, and weave throughout how metaliteracy and information literacy can be utilized to produce a more democratic, civil discourse. It provides a desperately needed look at the problems of ......
Conspiracy Theories and Extremism in New Times outlines a cadre of alt-right groups, conspiracy theories, and other forms of stigmatized knowledge threatening our society. In an era dominated by the pervasive influence of social media, the scholarly gaze has often overlooked the ways far-right factions leverage these platforms to propagate ......
