Author Description

Here is an eleven word horror story. Research shows we change our minds based on feelings, not facts. In this booklet, you can lear how to hijack someone's brain. If you have ever asked yourself one of the following: How do people fall down the rabbit hole of conspiracy videos? Why are they willing to believe a random video instead of experts? Fake News isn't a new phenomena but why is it uniquely dangerous now? How can you get through to someone who is in too deep? Can you have a conversation with a person when talking to them is like talking to a brick wall? Why facts won't change people's minds? Then this quick easy scientifically-backed booklet is for you.In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous conspiracy theories have emerged and gained a foothold in the public perception. About 30% of Americans surveyed believe COVID-19 is of a manmade rather than natural origin. Such beliefs erode trust in public institutions such as the CDC or the World Health Organization and are counterproductive in that they weaken efforts to manage the pandemic, sow seeds of discord and increase feelings of anxiety, and prevent a unified response on multiple levels. There are a variety of reasons that draw people to conspiracy theories, mainly centering around need fulfillment as some serve to meet an unmet social, epistemic, or existential desire. Research has shown that facts alone do not change people's mind, might backfire in some cases, and that knowledge or education do not adequately protect individuals from COVID-19 conspiracy theories. To this the end, I propose we approach debunking COVID-19 conspiracy theories in a different manner- that we do not address conspiracy theories based on facts but rather based on feelings. We should attempt to address the psychology behind beliefs rather than beliefs themselves. This booket deals with 6 strategies that attempt to just that: 1) empathetic listening and modifying our language, 2) tailoring the message to the receiver through