Denials

Among the ranks of those who espouse various conspiracy theories, ‘truthers’ represent a significant faction. Truthers unite behind the common belief that vast lies are being perpetuated, the public has been deluded by the media, pharmaceutical companies, politicians of another party, and sundry other villains. Regardless of the subject: Covid, the 2020 election, vaccines, the deep state, use of masks, or 5G among many others, Truthers alone believe they possess the information and superior understanding needed to reveal the deception.

To those who do not possess these paranoid fantasies and trust their ability to reason and apply critical thinking truthers appear to be mindless cultists, but that is an oversimplification. While there is no denying, as multiple studies have shown, that there is cognitive dissonance and cultural predisposition at work in those who share conspiratorial beliefs three other factors appear to influence participants. It is worth exploring these further as they offer some possibility for dialog if not change in perspective.

The topic of this post describes one of these traits, denial. Faced with a seemingly inexplicable and overwhelmingly negative view of one’s external environment, a common coping mechanism is to deny its reality. You may be familiar with the five stages of grieving described by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, of which denial is the first followed by anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Many conspiracy theorists, Q'Anon believers, and truthers exhibit the early-stage forms of grief—undoubtedly exacerbated by the added pressures of life during a pandemic.

A second trait, studies reveal, prevalent among those with extremist views regardless of where they may be on the political spectrum, is a higher than usual tolerance for risk. To be clear, not denial of risk but actually an enthusiasm for partaking in risky behavior. This might be an over-reaction to negative circumstances or a more pathologic version of alpha behavior.

The third trait is one which I have written about in prior posts, the need for validation. This can take many forms from participation in Facebook groups to membership in extremist organizations but in common they all provide some level of recognition, acceptance, validation of one’s views and often a feeling of superiority –a perverse cognoscenti.

The sense of belonging that participation in these groups offers is seductive and at times subtle—seeded and expanded through reinforcement in part attributable to an echo chamber effect as well as through self-reinforcing confirmation bias. The Internet offers abundant opportunity to find support for just about any viewpoint, as long as one does not question the source or validity of what is proffered. Although social media is frequently the mechanism for congregation, the sheer breadth and ease of access to information , misinformation and disinformation fuels its proliferation. Without an internal guidance system—critical thinking skills, and a healthy skepticism one can become lost in a maze of dissonant conclusions no matter how tenuous they may be. Individuals who have left Truther like groups, former anti- vaxxers, and disenfranchised Q'Anon believers, for example describe how they “ fell down the rabbit hole”. They also describe the vilification that followed their decision to reject their former beliefs, including in some cases threats of violence.

Understanding these traits is a useful tool, a place to begin in helping those already enmeshed in Truther behavior or those on the entry or exit path. If nothing else it gives us a clue to why people we might regard as otherwise rational have adopted views dissonant with our perception of them.

Whether it is possible to use these clues to find a common ground for conversation and replace the anonymity of Internet conversation with the reality of human dialog remains to be seen. It is clear to me that if we do not try, further isolation and distance will continue to form tectonic divides that must fracture the continent of our humanity, our country and our world beyond all recognition.