Medical conspiracy theories: cognitive science and implications for ethics

Andrade, Gabriel

doi:10.1007/s11019-020-09951-6

Cited by 57 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 101 publications

(72 reference statements)

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“…Most conspiracy theories are not based on credible evidence but rather on inaccurate thoughts and frequently illogical ones. Psychotic experiences enhance the development of these types of thoughts [27,29,60]. For instance, Barron et al [61] suggested that there are positive and direct correlations between the belief in conspiracy theories and schizotypy domains, namely strange beliefs, magical thinking, and reference ideas [28,41,62,63].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What drives beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories? The role of psychotic-like experiences and confinement-related factors

Ferreira¹,

Campos²,

Marinho³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide threat to public health and the global economy. The climate of fear and uncertainty associated with the pandemic has fostered the emergence of a wide-range of COVID-19 conspiracy theories that has the potential do shape public opinion and hinder the effective dissemination of valid information. Beliefs in conspiracy theories has been associated with maladaptive personality traits such as schizotypy and paranoia, as well as other non-psychotic psychological characteristics (e.g., social isolation, stress). The current study aimed to examine the association between beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories and psychotic-like experiences within the community, while also addressing the role of sociodemographic information, psychological outcomes (e.g., stress, affective states) and other pandemic-related factors (e.g., confinement conditions/behaviors). Our results suggest that psychotic-like experiences are associated with beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, particularly perceptual abnormalities and persecutory ideation. Moreover, increased health-related concerns and reduced education levels also seem to be liability factors for these conspiracy beliefs. These results add important insights into how the adherence to illogical and erroneous disease-related arguments may be contingent to proneness to psychotic-like experiences. COVID-19 conspiracy theories are yet another major challenge that governments and policy makers must contemplate when defining strategic directions to manage the current and future pandemics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What drives beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories? The role of psychotic-like experiences and confinement-related factors

Ferreira¹,

Campos²,

Marinho³

et al. 2020

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Health-specific conspiracy theory beliefs have been cited as a facet of medical mistrust [ 31 ]. These conspiracy theories are characterized by the belief that medical organizations or the government is planning to do something harmful to certain groups [ 15 , 50 ]. For example, during the HIV/AIDS pandemic, conspiracy theories suggested the virus was invented to kill Black communities [ 51 ].…”

Section: Race Discrimination and Medical Mistrustmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Investigation of Associations Between Race, Ethnicity, and Past Experiences of Discrimination with Medical Mistrust and COVID-19 Protective Strategies

Smith

Woerner

Perera

et al. 2021

J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

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This study investigates the associations between three forms of discrimination, race and ethnicity, general medical mistrust, health-specific COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, and adherence to COVID-19 protective behaviors. Participants ( n = 963) completed an online survey during May 2020, when stay-at-home orders and other government mandates were implemented in many states. Results indicate that everyday discrimination and healthcare discrimination were associated with significantly higher general medical mistrust, and healthcare discrimination and structural discrimination were associated with higher endorsement of health-specific COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs. Higher endorsement of health-specific COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs, but not general medical mistrust, was associated with significantly lower engagement in health-specific COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs. This study helps to contextualize racial health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread impact of everyday, structural, and healthcare discrimination in society. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40615-021-01080-x.

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“…Anti-vaccination rhetoric and conspiracies are not new. They existed since Edward Jenner's time, when some rumors claimed that vaccination will make people grow horns [50,51]. The themes have been strikingly similar across time, and include distrust of the medical establishment or governments mandating vaccination; revulsion at the idea of introducing unknown substances into the body; accusations that the ingredients are harmful; or suspicion that the real motives behind vaccines are to make people sick or to control the population.…”

Section: September 28 2020mentioning

confidence: 99%