conspiracy theory

From: Vincent Campbell (v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk)
Date: Tue Jul 17 2001 - 13:09:12 BST

  • Next message: Chris Taylor: "Re: Christinanity"

    Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id OAA26551 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 17 Jul 2001 14:24:53 +0100
    Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3101745FA0@inchna.stir.ac.uk>
    From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk>
    To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    Subject: conspiracy theory
    Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 13:09:12 +0100
    X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21)
    Content-Type: text/plain
    X-Filter-Info: UoS MailScan 0.1 [D 1]
    Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk
    Precedence: bulk
    Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
    

    Hi everyone,

    I was just wondering if anyone knew of any work into the psychology of
    conspiracy theory/theorists?

    I ask for several reasons, not least I'm interested in how the persuasive
    industries' textbook strategies work or fail to work in relation to
    particular conspiracy theories (e.g. how do NASA PR people deal, or fail to
    deal with fake moon landing conspirators etc. etc.).

    I also think it's an interesting question for memetics, because conspiracy
    theories seem to grab people and not let go, even in the face of conflicting
    evidence. (e.g. America's obsession with the murder of Jonbenet Ramsey- a
    recent documentary on UK TV showed strong evidence of an intruder using a
    stun gun, but checking the US press the next day, not a single word- not
    even in the Colorado press).

    Anyway, must go.

    Vincent

    -- 
    The University of Stirling is a university established in Scotland by
    charter at Stirling, FK9 4LA.  Privileged/Confidential Information may
    be contained in this message.  If you are not the addressee indicated
    in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such
    person), you may not disclose, copy or deliver this message to anyone
    and any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is
    prohibited and may be unlawful.  In such case, you should destroy this
    message and kindly notify the sender by reply email.  Please advise
    immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet email
    for messages of this kind.  Opinions, conclusions and other
    information in this message that do not relate to the official
    business of the University of Stirling shall be understood as neither
    given nor endorsed by it.
    

    =============================================================== This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing) see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit



    This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Jul 17 2001 - 14:29:05 BST