Matthias Chanais, Benn Yael, Harkin Ben
Department of Psychology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom.
PLoS One. 2025 Jun 16;20(6):e0323436. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0323436. eCollection 2025.
Conspiracy beliefs erode trust in science and lead to negative effects on public health and other science-related behaviours and political discourse. Despite extensive research on conspiratorial thinking, the literature lacks a comprehensive exploration of individuals' experiences as they enter (and exit) conspiracy communities, presenting a notable research gap. Therefore, the present study adopts an interpretivist framework by interviewing four ex-conspiracy theorists, delving into what drew them into conspiratorial thinking, the catalysts for their exit from these online communities (e.g., Flat Earth, distrust of science and medicine), and the obstacles they faced in disengaging from these communities. Reflective Thematic Analysis identified four main themes with eight associated subthemes. The experiences of ex-conspiracy theorists revealed a profound personal dimension for them entering the conspiracy echo chamber (Theme 1), such as feelings of loneliness and the impact of significant life events. Scientific illiteracy and a general misunderstanding of the scientific process (Theme 2), further contributed to their adoption of more entrenched conspiratorial thinking. The (online) conspiracy community, with its powerful and dynamic nature, had impacted the experiences of members (Theme 3), providing a sense of identity, reinforcing community doctrine, and creating a social and personal barrier to leaving the community. Leaving the community proved a challenging process (Theme 4), with participants identifying a conflict between their personal experiences and the community's doctrine as a key reason for their departure. We contextualize these findings within prior research and propose potential interventions for individuals susceptible to scientific misinformation, utilizing the principles of nudge theory for behaviour change and mindfulness-based therapies.
阴谋论信念侵蚀了对科学的信任，并对公众健康以及其他与科学相关的行为和政治话语产生负面影响。尽管对阴谋论思维进行了广泛研究，但文献中缺乏对个人进入（和退出）阴谋论群体经历的全面探索，这是一个明显的研究空白。因此，本研究采用解释主义框架，对四位前阴谋论者进行访谈，深入探讨吸引他们陷入阴谋论思维的因素、促使他们退出这些在线群体的催化剂（如“地平说”、对科学和医学的不信任）以及他们在脱离这些群体时面临的障碍。反思性主题分析确定了四个主要主题及八个相关子主题。前阴谋论者的经历揭示了他们进入阴谋论回音室的深刻个人层面（主题1），比如孤独感和重大生活事件的影响。科学素养不足以及对科学过程的普遍误解（主题2），进一步促使他们形成更顽固的阴谋论思维。（在线）阴谋论群体强大且动态的性质影响了成员的经历（主题3），提供了一种身份认同感，强化了群体教义，并为离开群体造成了社会和个人障碍。离开该群体是一个具有挑战性的过程（主题4），参与者认为个人经历与群体教义之间的冲突是他们离开的关键原因。我们将这些发现置于先前的研究背景中，并针对易受科学错误信息影响的个人提出潜在干预措施，利用助推理论的原则促进行为改变以及基于正念的疗法。
