Naiqing Zhou
Professor Jonathan Keeperman
WR 39B
15 March 2015
The origin of conspiracy theories
Conspiracy has been given different meaning by various people. A journalist, Jonathan Elinoff states “Conspiracy theory is a term that originally was a neutral description for any claim of civil, criminal or political conspiracy.” In my understanding, a conspiracy theory blames individuals, organizations or known groups for hiding the truth or leading to harmful situations. To conspire is a secret agreement in order to perform unlawful behaviors as a way to reach lawful endings. According to Elinoff, conspiracy theory is often used as a way of finding the secrets in either military affairs, political means or financial system, which aimed at taking
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away either power or freedom from citizens. (Elinoff 2-4) Many scholars have explained their reasons why conspiracies exist in society. According to them, conspiracies are a way of sharing a common belief and establishing relationships among some groups of people. Also, conspiracies are planned to explain the obscurity existed in the society. Conspiracy theories focus on the obscurity of official documentation. They exist in some remarkable events, socially or politically. Theories give people chances to express their feelings towards a confusing situation. At the same time, they allow people to speak out what they believe to be the explanation of the unknown situation, which helps to avoid uncertainty so that people can have a perceptual knowledge of a existed situation. On the other hand, conspiracy theories can limit the existence of topics such as how science works (Jolley), which might lead to harmful influences to the entire public. People choose to believe in the conspiracy theories for one main reason; whatever they know or hear about is a fallacy. They don’t trust the information released by a specific group, especially the government. Most of the known conspiracies are created as a way of relieving tension on a given issue. In addition, they are created to hide some unclean mess within the involved group. In return, people tend to believe in them sometimes leading to the cropping up of many more theories on the same issue. Most of these theories are skeptical in their explanations since skeptics are crucial in attaining certain goals in reality view. However, skeptics can never be the other face of maintaining the official truth of an issue (Elinoff 2-4). Hofstadter’s description of “the paranoid style” has evolved over the years, reveals some hidden truths. In his writing, he described American politics as characterized by weakening the effectiveness of the US democracy. According to Hofstadter, the paranoid style “has more to do with the way in which ideas are believed than the truth or falsity of their content.” He quoted the some examples from the Texas newspaper article is done in 1855, a manifesto of the Populist Party. In the article, he mentions that the spread of Illuminati in America. All of these are connected to the great depression. The Illuminati issue still exists in recent years, and the anti-Catholic rallies have also been experienced in many parts of the world. He also talks about a conspiracy to attack people in a vulnerable situation which they cannot defend themselves (Hofstadter). This has been repeated in recent years where attacks have been planned in nations resulting in the deaths of innocent people. Hofstadter’s style has explained the reason Bush felt he had not accomplished his mission due to his belief in the elimination of the enemies. From the given examples, we can see the way conspiracy theories have changed over the past 50 years. The same style has been used to describe different conspiracies. For instance, the death of Princess Diana was met with many theories. It is said that she committed suicide. There is another saying that she was assassinated by her family while others point to political assassination. None of the theories has been proved right and therefore people are left to make their conclusions. If we compare the example of Princes Diana with Hofstadter’s paranoid style, we might quickly find that Hofstadter focuses on the issues that existed a long time ago. This style has been changed to meet the demands of the citizens. The reason is that, when a writer is writing on a particular conspiracy, he tends to emphasize the government’s version of the story. For instance, in the 9/11, the government said it was a terrorist attack. However, another writer might give a totally different version. The 9/11 attack, some writers said that it had been planned, and the government was taking care of the bombing. The collapse of WTC towers is controlled demolition. Questions might arise from these writers about how the building fall if no explosive was installed in the lower level or how the building fall symmetrically. Their arguments are that the planes could not bring the buildings down, and the fire would not melt the steel structure. Recently, there are a lot of controversies as to how the Ebola virus came to be. Some people think it was spread from wild animals such as bats, it was created from the lab accidentally while others suggest that it was created on purpose (Jolley 1-4). Similarly, some groups point to the fact that the virus was a type of ritual being covered up (Jolley 1-4). There is no specific answer explaining the way the virus came to be. Also, people may avoid seeking the necessary treatment sine they are not sure about where the virus originated from. The explanation might be that, people fail to get the advice of health attendants. The spread of HIV related to conspiracy theories about the use of condoms has contributed to the widespread of the viruses by resulting to deaths of many people. According to Jolley, the exposure to conspiracy theories has led to the reduction of humans’ intention to participate in response to climate change, the political systems, as well as the vaccination of children. All of these have affected human negatively. An example another controversy in the early 20th century is where the US claims to be the first to send people to the moon. However, many countries doubt this since the period between the US landing to the moon and the second person to land was more than thirty years. For scientists, the technology used during that time by the US could have been improved thereby the next landing would not have taken that long (Saletine 4-7). This gives people more reason not to believe about the US landing on moon. The internet has been the major source of all the controversy theories we hear of. This is because the majority of people are now literate and have used the internet to spread their inclinations. Also, it has made communication possible for those who want to share truths, as well as lies with other people. In addition, the internet has been stocked with so much information that was earlier stored in books making it possible for people to know about any conspiracy they have heard of. This does not exclude people from any demography since it is open to everyone wherever they are situated. Therefore, it has made it possible for creators of these conspiracies as well as their believers to access information. From the explanations, it is obvious that the conspiracy theories are different but they are bringing some hidden truth that people are looking for. This shows that many people support and believe in conspiracy theories. This is because they are the only way to relieve their doubts about some issues. Some of the truths that conspiracy theories try to reveal are; who really killed JKF, what caused Princess Diana’s death, is Illuminati control of the new world, did Bush administration sacrifice American people in the 9/11 attack? All of these are the hot topics that these theories seek. All there is that the opposers of the theories are the ones who tell lies. If they are not arrested, their lives are always in danger, which is forcing them to hide from the attention of the public and the authorities. Therefore, conspiracy theories are an effective tool in revealing truths. If some hidden secrets of individuals or organizations are made known to the public or even the whole world, government or authority might feel the pressure and work on the issue and end up with some explanations. Believing a conspiracy is not being skeptical. It is a “selective doubter” like Saletine stated (Saletine 4), which means the majority of people who believe in conspiracy theories might distinguish things to be believed and things not to believe. People who believe in fallacies about unknown issues chose to spread the belief and persuade more people. They might worry if people know the truth and they might lose their status or face some charges. Tom Rogan wrote, “conspiracy theories challenge Americans’ accomplishments and make people suffering.” This means that the conspiracy theories are difficult for the truth to be revealed. What citizens are suffering is, they are not understood by a majority of those acting on the truth. He continues “these world theories are also testaments to our society (Rogan 1-3). This means that Americans have not gone short of ideas since they can come up with different theories regarding the different issues that bother them. It shows that Americans’ desire for the truth has not been stopped and that they will still try to reveal the hidden truth. According to him, the conspiracy theories have great value to the health of US (Rogan 9-11). He means that these theories have made the country accomplish its purpose politically and economically. It can be seen from the Americans conspiracy’s nature that the government is using to people’s hesitation and trust to spread information to the public. In conclusion, it is true that conspiracy theories play an important role in a nation’s affairs. It is a way of separating any truth. Majority of people following such theories do not trust their governments, and, therefore, the only way for them is to examine the government. Sometimes conspiracies are meant to give pressure to the government in order to work on a given issue. Also, governments should always be transparent on some issues in order to avoid instances of conspiracies. Therefore, we should all acknowledge the existence of conspiracy theories in the current century. This is because they help us in foresee some mysteries in our social and political environments. The study of conspiracy theories will help students in understanding the reason conspiracies exist and the reason why they should be believed or not. Work Cited "36 Conspiracy Theories That Turned Out To Be True." 36 Conspiracy Theories That Turned Out To Be True.
Web. 18 Mar. 2015. <http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=195848.0>.
Brotherton, Rob. The President is Dead: why Conspiracy Theories about the Death of JKF Endure. The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories. Retrieved from: <http://conspiracypsychology.com/>. [Retrieved on March 12 2015]
Hofstadter Richard. The Paranoid Style in American Politics. Harper’s. Retrieved from: < http://harpers.org/archive/1964/11/the-paranoid-style-in-american-politics/4/>. [Retrieved on March 12 2015]
Jolley, Daniel. Ebola virus conspiracy theories. The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories. Retrieved from :< http://conspiracypsychology.com/>. [Retrieved on March 12 2015]
Rogan, Tom. Why conspiracy theories are good for America. The Week. Retrieved from :< http://theweek.com/articles/465038/why-conspiracy-theories-are-good-america>. Retrieved on March 12 2015]
Saletan, William. Conspiracy Theorists Aren’t Really Skeptics. The fascinating psychology of people who know the real truth about JKF, UFO and 9/11. The State of the Universe. Retrieved form :< http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/11/conspiracy_theory_psychology_people_who_claim_to_know_the_truth_about_jfk.single.html>. [Retrieved on March 12
2015]
Conspiracy theories are entertaining for many to speculate and demand a great deal of thought to constitute. A conspiracy theory is defined as the idea that many important political, economic, and social trends are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public (“The Definition of Conspiracy Theory”). Many conspiracy theories are thought up around children’s shows, which offers a feeling of nostalgia and pleasure. A few children’s show conspiracies that need a deeper light shone on them are from Max & Ruby (2002-2013), Winnie the Pooh (1977), Rugrats (1990-2004), and All Grown Up (2003-2008).
Conspiracy theories accuse others of a cover up by secret planning. They may be based on a hunch or even backed by evidence. To the curious mind, they bring about unanswered questions that have attracted the attention of many people throughout history. Among some of the more popular theories are the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; the death of Princess Diana; alien encounters in Roswell, New Mexico; and the idea that Elvis may still be alive. Perhaps the most intriguing theory, because of our neighboring location, is the underground bunker and seemingly strange characteristics at the Denver airport.
The day that President Kennedy was assassinated, people started to view the world differently. His death was the first time that a conspiracy theory transformed into a conceivable form of knowledge among the general public. "It was because of Kennedy's death in Dallas that the conspiracy theory was born" (Wensley). It started with an article written ...
Holt, Richard. "Apollo 11 Moon Landing: Conspiracy Theories Debunked." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 15 July 2009. Web. 02 Mar. 2014.
This section was given in order to show why conspiracy theories are appealing to the average person and how anybody can create one. Next, research data on the general personality and mental state of conspiracy theorists was introduced with believers being more likely to be cynical and have low self-worth (Koerth-Baker 343). Afterward a brief explanation is given on the amygdala, a part of the brain which activates after fear is felt, and how it is crucial to the creation of the various theories we have today. There has also been research showing a correlation between theorizing and strong support of democratic principles due to the fact that conspiracy theories wouldn’t exist without real conspiracies coming to light (Koerth-Baker 344). Then, Koerth begins to talk about how an abundance of available knowledge on the internet has made destroying conspiracy theories even more difficult due to the constant use of confirmation bias. In 2006 scientists discovered an event called the “backfire effect” where any attempts to debunk a theory makes it more popular to the people, but the effect seems more noticeable when it supports a worldview or ideology (Koerth-Baker
Belzar, Richard. UFO?s, JFK, and Elvis conspiracies you don?t have to be crazy to believe. New York: The Ballantine Publishing Group, 1999.
It is human nature to try and find the unseen hand in a crime. When calamity struck on November 22, 1963, the country began to search for the unseen hand in the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. The United States was completely taken under shock when news came to them that Kennedy had been shot in Dealey Plaza. 70% of Americans believe Kennedy was assassinated under some type of conspiracy. Few know the facts to what they believe, but most just believe, but most just believe as an escape route to the reality that a small man such as Lee Harvey Oswald can kill a man as big as John F. Kennedy. While people feel Lee Harvey was accompanied in the killing, the fact of the matter is that there is no evidence to prove Lee Harvey Oswald was part of a conspiracy.
Such as, did inside traders know about attacks before the event even occurred, Why did the world's most powerful air force fail to intercept any of the four hijacked planes, Why did the Twin Towers collapse so quickly and a good question is why was the crash site at Shanksville, Pennsylvania so small and why was the aircraft debris not visible. Many of these conspiracies got most of the world thinking about the tragic event that occurred on september 11, 2001 and if it was an event that was made up by the government to set up the terrorist and their
Conspiracy theorists, calling themselves Truthers, have provided evidence to support their claims numerous times in attempts to convince the general population. Truthers start by pointing out the FBI Crime They demand the government to explain what really happened and that justice be fairly served. They have not had an open playing field, however, they received opposition at every move they make with explanations, counterarguments, and information from the government, police forces, first responders, and the residents of Newtown.
In researching this and many other conspiracy theories, one can see many uses of sensationalism, mainly by the media. This media- the news (local and national), magazines, tabloids, television shows, movies, and so on- has a huge e...
...Hofstadter, Richard. The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made It. Knopf, New York: Vintage Books, 1989. Print.
On November 22, 1963, at 12:30 in the afternoon, President John F. Kennedy was shot at and killed while participating in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. The most important question that arises from this incident is ‘Who killed President John F. Kennedy?’ This is an issue which has been debated by scholars, The Government, and even common people alike. Many people seem to feel that it was a conspiracy, some large cover-up within a cover-up.
Hofstadter, Richard. The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made It. New York: Vintage, 1989.
Since the beginning of settled civilizations, people have had more mutual sharings than ever before. By the same token, there have been some conspiracy theories that are usually against the culturally accepted beliefs of religions, science and society. A conspiracy theory can be described so differently. However, as in his text, Marshall Brain explicates, a conspiracy is generally defined as a theory seeking to explain a disputed case or matter as a plot by a secret group or alliance rather than an individual or isolated act (Brain). Especially, after the new media has become quite popular, more and more conspiracies are theorized every single day, which aim to catch society’s attention via such media tools as the internet, journals and newspapers. Thus, people who theorize those conspiracies tend to use such objects as spiritual and mysterious ones in order to interest people. To illustrate, many examples can be given. For instance, many people have claimed that they were abducted by aliens, although they could show no evidences. Here, a citation from Blackmore could facilitate to understand the circumstance better. She states that people occasionally claim that they have been abducted from public places by aliens, in this case that may provide them with witnesses and affirmations but no evidence could be shown so far (Blackmore). As it is well known, only a small number of people believe such alien abductions, however, rating of this kind of news is quite high on media, because humankind has been wondering if there are extraterrestrial creatures out of the earth. Another example can be conspiracy theories which are about the origins of religions such as the rejection of Jesus Christ. There are some people who pay attention to...
Conspiracy theory- noun, a belief that some covert but influential organization is responsible for a circumstance or event. For some reason there is something so addicting to reading or watching things about conspiracy theories. The thought that there is a ridiculous explanation for something is so interesting, yet I can’t get myself to believe any of them. I’ve watched so many videos about Harry Potter or Disney conspiracy theories, and yes they are interesting and fun to watch but, to me, they just aren’t believable. I think it might be because I know in the back of my head that it isn’t true without actual facts presented. Some of my friends are subscribed to a YouTube channel that makes conspiracy theory videos every once in awhile and