How Ridiculous Ideas Gain Traction. We're Looking at You, Flat Earth

The spherical shape of Earth is what we like to call around here “settled science.” But nowadays, pit even a 2,500-year-old truism against the evangelism of Internet algorithms, and you got yourself an actual “debate,” no matter how inane. We’re speaking of what appears to be the disturbing trend of people thinking the surface of the world is flat. No, really -- this is a thing. For example, last month the third annual Flat Earth International Conference convened in Dallas; the rapper B.o.B once started a GoFundMe campaign as part of a quest to gather ungatherable evidence for the idea; and basketball star Kyrie Irving has found himself having to apologize for publicizing the view on Twitter. A 2018 YouGov survey found that 16% of 8,215 American adults queried had various levels of doubt about the true shape of the Earth. At this point, it’s probably fair to ask: When is American society going to hit epistemological bottom? Perhaps the first step in answering that question is understanding why a belief like flat Earth can flourish, at least among certain groups of willing adherents. To that end, we talked to Asheley Landrum, assistant professor of science communication at Texas Tech University, who has been studying the movement, if you want to call it that. We asked her, well, just what in the round world is going on here? Here are some of the key points from Landrum’s answers, edited for length and clarity. YouTube as Flat Earth Gateway One of the things we found is that many people with this belief discovered flat Earth through YouTube. One of our research participants told us he started off by watching videos that were suggested to him on YouTube because of his interest in conspiracy theories. He started looking into conspiracy theories about the Illuminati and Sandy Hook, and the whole time he was watching he kept being suggested flat Earth videos by the algorithm. He said he was going to watch one of the videos with the intention of discrediting it, but by the end he accepted that Earth is not round. This was very true for many of the people we talked to; they start by watching a series of conspiracy videos and then they're introduced to this idea of a flat Earth. They choose not to watch it, but the more it's suggested, the more compelled they are. By the time they view it, they're ready to kind of accept that information. Religious Belief Doesn't Predict Flat Earth Stance We recently wrote a paper on who is susceptible to flat Earth videos on YouTube. The number one characteristic that makes people more susceptible is their conspiracy ideation; how much they see conspiracies and accept that conspiracies are true. Many of the flat-earthers we spoke to at the conference told us that one of the reasons they believe in a flat Earth is that they think the Bible should be interpreted literally, and they would quote passages they said were explaining how Earth is actually flat. But in our research study, the intensity with which someone holds religious beliefs or the importance of religion in their daily lives was actually not predictive of being open to flat Earth views. Scientific Knowledge Protects Against Distorted Thinking Among people who had stronger conspiracy beliefs, the more science knowledge they had, the less likely they were to believe that Earth was flat or to believe that these videos were presenting good arguments. So scientific knowledge was protective in the conspiracy community against accepting these flat Earth beliefs. One of the things I thought was so compelling about the flat Earth documentary last year was that the flat earthers designed really fantastic experiments, and of course, they found that the experiments didn't support the flat Earth worldview. They were upset because they felt like they did something wrong. Trump and Flat Earth We definitely have heard from the flat-earthers that they like Donald Trump, but many of them said that they don't even bother voting. In some cases, they'll express very liberal views, and in others, very conservative, so it really is a phenomenon that is across the political spectrum. They like Donald Trump because, to them, he represents somebody who is not part of the political elite coming into that political office. They see Donald Trump as a disruptor as opposed to just another establishment Republican. How Widespread Is This? Well, there aren't, at least as far as we can tell, a very large percentage of people who currently believe Earth is flat, but it is very difficult for us to know. Most of what we know about how many people in the U.S. or abroad believe in flat Earth is based on survey data, but many people who hold conspiracy beliefs and are suspicious of universities and government officials aren't going to respond to phone surveys. When Trust Erodes What belief in flat Earth tells us is how bad it can be when we start to truly distrust other people. We do live in a society that relies on a division of cognitive labor. We talk about this concept of elite, but it's not that there are people who are elite and people who aren't, it's that each of us has our own domain that we are the expert in. I have to take my car to mechanics to have them tell me what's wrong with it because I have no idea how to do that. My area of expertise is in something completely different. Everybody has their own area of expertise and their own part to play in society. If we don't rely on each other, we have this large burden of knowledge that we have to carry around with us, and it's just not possible for us to be able to do everything. So that's really the danger that Flat Earth represents: It's what happens when we stop trusting each other and doubt those areas of expertise. https://www.kqed.org/science/1951190/flat-earth-believers-actually-love-science-they-just-like-conspiracies-more What Does Oppositional Defiant Disorder Look Like in Adults? AN ADULT WITH OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER (ODD) MAY FEEL MAD AT THE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS TEMPER REGULARLY — EVEN DAILY. THIS MAY MANIFEST AS ROAD RAGE OR VERBAL ABUSE. IT MAY CAUSE TENSION WITH AUTHORITY FIGURES, AND TROUBLE AT WORK. IT MAY TEAR APART RELATIONSHIPS. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER AND ITS OVERLAP WITH ADHD. https://www.additudemag.com/oppositional-defiant-disorder-in-adults/ Adult Oppositional Defiant Disorder ABOUT ADULT OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a developmental behavioral condition where a child continuously defies and disobeys their parents, teachers and other figures of authority. Pacific Solstice treats adults suffering from unresolved or undetected Oppositional Defiant Disorder. From argumentative to rage, a person’s personal and professional life can follow a pattern of disruption and chaos because the individual cannot seem to follow rules and is often aggressive and/or unkind. If your loved one displays this kind of malevolent behavior for longer than six months, they should be medically assessed for the condition. This is especially true if the behavior is disrupting their ability to function at school, home or in friendships. WHY THERE IS HOPE FOR ADULT OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER Early treatment for ODD can prevent future problems in the person’s life. While there is no one-size-fits-all cure for the disorder, there are various forms of therapy that can improve quality of life and avoid further pain. HELPING A LOVED ONE WITH ADULT OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER - EARLY INTERVENTION Adults with ODD will find it difficult to make friends at school and get along with others. If you notice your loved one acting out aggressively, for longer than 6 months, it may be necessary to schedule an assessment. HOW WE TREAT ADULT OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER ODD is understood to be a potential outcome of developmental problems, so various types of therapy may be necessary to address the underlying causes of the disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy is helpful in that it teaches appropriate tools of communication, especially in the expression of anger or fear. CBT also helps condition problem-solving tactics that can help men and women walk through anger and frustration. Even more, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness techniques help those who want to heal by gaining a sense of body, space and emotion without judgement towards self. A person with ODD can be distressing for their entire family. Spouses or parents may be frustrated because their loved one will not listen or they have been subject to physical violence at the hand of the affected person. Family therapy can help facilitate effective communication. Some research shows that ODD can be a result of too much negative reinforcement parenting. The individual knows that their disruptive behavior gets them attention. This pattern can carry into adult and geriatric stages of life. Family therapy can empower individuals to use positive reinforcement tactics and boundaries so that everyone is respected and safe. Group therapy is helpful when it comes to learning acceptable social behaviors in a real-world setting. Pacific Solstice will tailor your treatment plan and provide outlets for stress and worry. Finally, assessing gut health and neurotransmitter metabolites can bring insight into what specific imbalances may be causing behavioral issues. Treatment requires an integrative approach to ensure long-term safety for patient and family. WHAT ONGOING CARE LOOKS LIKE FOR ADULT OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER It’s important for anyone with ODD to learn how to deal with anger and how to interact in social settings. Keeping a healthy treatment plan, complete with an ongoing network of mental health professionals, will ensure empowered living, rather than history repeating into further fear and worsening conditions. https://www.pacificsolstice.com/what-we-treat/adult-oppositional-defiant-disorder IN ADULTS: ODD GENERALLY ISN’T DIAGNOSED IN TEENAGERS OR ADULTS. BUT CHILDHOOD ODD CAN CONTINUE INTO LATE ADOLESCENCE AND ADULTHOOD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GOES UNDIAGNOSED AND UNTREATED. While the general symptoms remain the same, adults with ODD might also: have a lot of anger toward the world feel generally misunderstood, unappreciated, or disliked have strong attitudes of disdain or disrespect for authority figures be impatient have a habit of defending themselves forcefully and refusing to consider feedback from others lash out at others when they feel slighted, and have low frustration tolerance have trouble maintaining jobs, romantic relationships, and friendships, due to frequent tension and conflict find it hard to follow rules and expectations at home and work SYMPTOM OVERLAP Some of these signs share similarities with traits associated with other conditions, including: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) conduct disorder depression bipolar disorder disruptive mood dysregulation disorder antisocial personality disorder This overlap can make it more difficult for experts to identify ODD in teens and young adults. Brain chemistry: ODD has been linked to certain types of brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, that don’t work the right way. Neurotransmitters help nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. If these chemicals are not working properly, messages may not make it through the brain correctly, leading to symptoms of ODD and other mental illnesses. Further, many children and teens with ODD also have other mental illnesses, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disorders, depression, or an anxiety disorder, which may contribute to their behavior problems. Other brain differences: Some studies suggest that defects in or injuries to certain areas of the brain can lead to serious behavior problems in children. Temperament: Kids who have trouble controlling their emotions are more likely to have ODD. Family history: Many children and teens with ODD have close family members with mental illnesses, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders. This suggests that a risk of getting ODD may be inherited. Family issues: Things like a dysfunctional family life, substance abuse, and inconsistent discipline by parents or other authority figures may add to the development of behavior disorders. Peers: Attention from peers or others may sometimes reinforce ODD behaviors. https://www.healthline.com/health/oppositional-defiant-disorder#symptoms https://www.getinflow.io/post/adhd-adults-oppositional-defiant-disorder-odd https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17632251/ Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) in Adults Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in adults is more common than you might think. People with this condition are always angry. They’re addicted to arguments, easily lose their temper, and experience problems within their family and social circle as well as at work. In fact, although this psychological condition tends to be more frequently associated with the child population, it’s also relatively common for it to continue into adulthood. As a matter of fact, it’s extremely common for a defiant child to develop an antisocial personality disorder over the years. However, a lack of temperamental control in maturity leads to somewhat more of a problematic psychological reality. Indeed, this kind of type of opposition to authority in adulthood borders on far more challenging and dangerous types of behavior. For this reason, it’s not a minor problem and the figures are worrying. In fact, it’s estimated that oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) affects between five percent and 15 percent of the school population. However, a good number of the cases aren’t diagnosed. Therefore, it’s extremely common for people to reach 20, 30, or 40 years of age exhibiting the kind of behavior that’s as adverse as it’s conflictive. Oppositional defiant disorder in adults is very difficult to diagnose. This is because it involves antisocial traits and even addictive behaviors. THE SYMPTOMS OF OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER IN ADULTS Some children can be challenging, difficult, and even troublesome. However, it doesn’t mean they suffer from ODD. In fact, ODD is a recurring condition in childhood in which a set of complex behaviors tend to spiral. These behaviors include aggressiveness towards authority figures, constant tantrums, vindictive behaviors, resentment, constant irritability, etc. ODD is recognized as an externalizing disorder (Achenbach et al., 1983; Quay et al., 1987). It involves the maladaptive behaviors we mentioned earlier. Furthermore, if not treated early, it can lead to criminal behavior and serious social maladjustment in adulthood. DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS The adult with ODD demonstrates a clear impossibility of integrating into an environment with basic norms. If the school stage was problematic for them, keeping a job in maturity may well prove to be even more of a challenge. For this reason, they don’t usually spend too long in any one position. Here are some of the behaviors they tend to exhibit: They lose patience frequently. In fact, they have an extremely low resistance to any kind of frustration. They present notable mood swings. However, their most common frame of mind is irritability. They define themselves as rebellious figures. Furthermore, they think of themselves as independent people who live life in their own way. However, the obvious contradiction here is that they’re completely unable to adapt to almost any situation. They experience family and work problems. In addition, they find it hard to keep hold of friends and partners, etc. They show no personal responsibility. They don’t respect rules or laws. Nor do they accept advice. They’re consistently angry with the world, the system, and every figure of authority. They see themselves as misunderstood. Indeed, according to them, no one appreciates their worth, their potential, or their good work. They tend to use verbal violence. They’ll exhibit dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. They may develop addictive and violent behaviors. THE CAUSES OF OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER There are several theories that explain the appearance of oppositional defiant disorder in adults. On the one hand, there are neurobiological approaches. These refer to genetic causes. Then, there’s the social explanation. This concerns dysfunctional patterns of upbringing and education. For instance, these often involve aggressive fathers and depressed yet controlling mothers. While it’s true that the triggers for this externalizing disorder aren’t exactly clear, there’s one indisputable reality. This is the fact that any child or adolescent who doesn’t receive psychological attention for their defiant disorder develops more problematic behaviors in adulthood. In fact, it’s extremely common for them to end up with an antisocial personality disorder. https://exploringyourmind.com/oppositional-defiant-disorder-odd-in-adults/ People Drawn to Conspiracy Theories Share a Cluster of Psychological Features Baseless theories threaten our safety and democracy. It turns out that specific emotions make people prone to such thinking https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/people-drawn-to-conspiracy-theories-share-a-cluster-of-psychological-features/ What Is Conspiracy Theory Addiction? A conspiracy theory can be defined as the belief that a secret-but-influential organization or individual is responsible for a circumstance or event. People often think that these beliefs are rare or sometimes absurd, but research shows they may be more common than previously thought. A study found that about 50% of Americans believe in at least one conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theories come in all forms, but most theories involve political and social events. Some examples include the belief that certain celebrities are immortal vampires and controversial topics such as the belief that a small group of people are planning to overthrow the government. Often, one theory will have accompanying and sometimes contradictory conspiracy theories which can be dangerous if not challenged. On the other hand, it can be noted that some conspiracy theories have been proven to be true. With the increased popularity of conspiracies and exposure to information, it is possible to harm one’s mental health and relationships by developing a conspiracy theory addiction. Conspiracy theory addiction is a behavioral addiction that can have a hidden impact on the way one perceives events and has been linked to having more negative attitudes. Rather than helping one cope with their negative feelings, the belief in conspiracy theories can create a cycle of distrust and disempowerment. As a person encounters different sources, it is important to be able to analyze the information and distinguish between false theories and real threats. People who strongly believe in conspiracy theories and become addicted may experience some of the following: Anxiety or fear for no particular reason. A perceived loss of control. A need to make sense of complex topics or unrelated events, even with little or no topical knowledge. Low self-esteem. A strong urge to make connections between a series of unrelated events or behaviors. A belief in paranormal explanations for scientific phenomenon. A sense of not belonging or isolation. A great alienation, disengagement, or disaffection from society If the presence of the above feelings and behaviors significantly impacts a person’s ability to function in their daily lives, that person may have a conspiracy theory addiction. WHY DO PEOPLE BELIEVE IN CONSPIRACY THEORIES? Conspiracy theories occur when people create links between one or more unrelated events, a process that emerges from the need for the human brain to find patterns. New research also shows that people with certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem, are more likely to have a conspiracy theory addiction. Researchers have studied the different reasons why people believe in conspiracy theories, and many of the explanations include the following factors: A need for understanding and consistency. A need for control. A need to belong or feel special. NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING When a person experiences distress over uncertainty or witnesses a large-scale event, the mind will start to look for explanations that connect the dots. Those with lower analytical abilities and less tolerance for uncertainty are more likely to believe a conspiracy theory. This is because conspiracy theories can often provide explanations for events that seem confusing or frightening, and believers can assume that they are being intentionally deceived. People are also naturally inclined to search for information that confirms their existing beliefs; this is known as confirmation bias. The ability to easily share and spread information over the internet has increased belief in certain conspiracy theories. Someone with a conspiracy theory addiction may seek out information to support something they already think is true, rather than seek out new information or challenge their beliefs. A need for understanding and consistency can lead to addictive behaviors such as spending excessive time on the internet and ignoring relationships and responsibilities. NEED FOR CONTROL Conspiracy theory addiction can also be caused by the need to feel safe and in control. When the human mind feels threatened, identifying what is causing the danger can be a way to cope with anxiety. One study found that people are more likely to believe in conspiracies if they are feeling anxious. Another study found that people who feel psychologically and/or sociopolitically disempowered are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. People who have a conspiracy theory addiction may be drawn to the theories as a way of making sense of the world and feeling more in control. Researchers who have studied why people believe in conspiracy theories have found little evidence that believing in these theories actually helps reduce anxiety or satisfy the need to feel in control. People who have a conspiracy theory addiction are less likely to engage in actions that could improve their autonomy and sense of control. The long-term effects of conspiracy theory addiction may leave people feeling more disempowered and anxious than before. NEED TO BELONG Conspiracy theory addiction can also form as a defense mechanism, especially in those who feel alienation and disaffection from society. Typically those with a strong belief in conspiracies have a distrust in authority, lower self-esteem, lower levels of interpersonal trust, and feel that they are the “heroes” in the story — while those who are conspiring against them are the “enemy.” As modern society becomes more complex and information is more easily spread, some people feel left behind in trying to keep up. When a person feels disadvantaged, they will often find ways to boost their own self-perceptions. https://www.addictioncenter.com/drugs/conspiracy-theory-addiction/ LOW IQ AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES: A HAND IN GLOVE RELATIONSHIP The fact that lower intelligence equates with belief in conspiracy theories intuitively makes sense. The world is incredibly complex and is difficult to understand. However, it is much easier to understand if you boil everything down to the belief that some arch-villain is orchestrating all the bad things rather than bad things being the unpredictable outcome of billions of normal people punting about the world with their own ideas, beliefs and agenda, as well as the fact that all of us are subject to natural forces that are completely beyond our control. It is much easier to accept that the ‘lizard people did it’ than to try to understand several millennia of complex geo-political interactions. With particular regards to the coronavirus pandemic, the first question I would ask is: who is benefitting from this economic, social and health catastrophe? Arguably, Jeff Bezos. But by now even he must be fed up of having to crush and dispose of the brown Amazon boxes in which the vestiges of our lifestyle are now delivered. Asking these questions is exactly what conspiracy theorists don’t do. There are quite a number of research papers demonstrating that people who believe in conspiracy theories do not engage in analytical thinking. This is obvious really as almost all conspiracy theories fall apart when subjected to a modicum of rational analysis. How then do you get a conspiracy theorist to think analytically? With difficulty is probably the answer. But the study that I alluded to in the first paragraph also demonstrated that people who believe in conspiracy theories also go in for the kind of ‘pseudo-profound bullshit’ that circulates on social media. They demonstrated this by exposing study participants to phrases such as ‘hidden meaning transforms unparalleled abstract beauty’. At first glance this seems to be saying something profound but is in fact a sentence constructed of randomly selected buzz words. Never-the-less, the conspiracy nuts loved it. https://www.adamstaten.com/blog/2021/2/7/low-iq-and-conspiracy-theories-a-hand-in-glove-relationship Conspiracy theories are a mental health crisis No one's talking about the complex relationship between disinformation and mental health. That changes now. https://mashable.com/article/mental-health-disinformation-conspiracy-theories-depression Conspiracy Theories: A Public Health Concern and How to Address It https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.682931/full Speaking of Psychology: Why people believe in conspiracy theories, with Karen Douglas, PhD https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/conspiracy-theories STRESS INCREASES BELIEFS THAT UNDERLIE DISORDERS AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES Stress increases the rigidity of the beliefs underlying psychiatric disorders, prejudices and conspiracy theories. Therefore measures aimed at reducing social stress—a basic income or better job protection—could be the most effective approach for tackling problems such as depression, psychosis, discrimination and conspiracy theories. https://neurosciencenews.com/stress-conspiracy-theories-21116/ Reading doesn't just cram information into your brain. It changes how your brain works. Reading isn't just a way to cram facts into your brain. It's a way to rewire how your brain works in general. It strengthens your ability to imagine alternative paths, remember details, picture detailed scenes, and think through complex problems. https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/reading-books-brain-chemistry.html#:~:text=Reading%20isn't%20just%20a,and%20think%20through%20complex%20problems.