The document discusses conspiracy theories related to COVID-19. It defines conspiracy theories and explains that they arise from epistemic, existential, and social motives to simplify reality and provide explanations for events perceived as unjust. Common risk groups for believing conspiracies are identified, but recent research found conspiracy thinking has become more mainstream during the pandemic. Dangers of conspiratorial thinking include increased risk of violence. The document examines similarities and differences between conspiracy theories and delusional beliefs, noting idiosyncratic experiences differentiate the two.

1. We can’t have beer, so lets talk about Birds

2. Birds are actually drones operated by the United
States government to spy.
All birds in the United States were exterminated by
the federal government between 1959 and 1971
and replaced by lookalike drone.
• Have you seen a baby pigeon?
• Why do they always shit on your car or on you?
• Why do they always sit on the wire?

3. Birds Aren’t Real? How a Conspiracy Takes Flight | Peter McIndoe | TED - YouTube

4. Conspiracy Theory

5. Definition
• 'constructions that explain an individual or social situation or
development perceived as unjust or intolerable by presenting this
situation as the deliberate result of a group of people secretly
working together with evil intentions' (Birchall 2006 ).
Situation: COVID 19
Unjust or intolerable: impact on human life, reduced autonomy
Secrecy: uncertainty about the nature, course and control of the
pandemic
Group of people working together: coercive nature of government

6. WHY??
• Epistemic
• Existential
• Social motives
(Douglas et al. 2017).

7. • Epistemic
Conspiracy theorists simplify reality by choosing an unambiguous, definitive explanation for events,
selecting information that fits and then leaving no room for alternatives. This makes reality
understandable again.
• Existential
Promise safety and more control in situations where people feel anxious and powerless. When
people are dissatisfied with socio-political reality, they can use conspiracy theories to make sense of
a confusing and sometimes perceived hostile reality, rationalize problems and setbacks and reduce
feelings of helplessness .
• Social
conspiracy theories connect with one in group, which gives identity, connection and a certain
superiority over the ignorant masses

8. Risk groups (Freeman et al. 2020).
• Male
• Less Educated
• Single
• Unemployed
• Ethnic minority
• Psychiatric disorder
• Less confidence
• Less connection with other people.
However, recent
research showed
that conspiracy
theory has become
more common
mainstream
thinking and the
conspiracy thinkers
during the Corona
Pandemic does not
fit these risk
groups.

9. Dangers of Conspiracy thinking
• Increase risk of violence (Moskalenko & McCauley 2009).
Passive acquisition Reading, attaching value and spreading Activist Extremism
The wave of arson attacks on 5G masts is an example of aggression that is most likely strongly
inspired by conspiracy theories.
This is highly dependent on individual differences. The risk of violence appears to be associated with
extreme right-wing sympathies and existing psychiatric problems.
Risk is increased in people with underlying psychological vulnerability. Of the 35 QAnon adherents
arrested in the storming of the Capitol, 63% were found to have mental health issues such as PTSD,
schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. (Jensen & Kane 2021).

10. Are conspiracy theories
paranoid delusions?

11. Components of delusions
• Incorrect ideas
• Clinging despite evidence to contrary
• Not suitable for subculture

12. • Incorrect ideas
The content of corona conspiracy theories ranges from paranoid thoughts about powerful
companies to bizarre beliefs about a world elite that systematically and on a large scale sexually
abuses and sacrifices children for their blood to drink, vaccines that contain microchips to keep an
eye on us, or the coronavirus unleashed as a military biological weapon to combat overpopulation
on Earth .
Concerns about the great power of corporations and governments are generally accepted,
understandable and plausible. However, the bizarre, impossible content of extreme corona
conspiracy theories is very similar to the content of paranoid delusions.

13. • Clinging despite evidence to contrary
Conspiracy theorists also stubbornly hold on to their beliefs. They often provide an abundance of
'evidence' for their theories, for example texts from websites, individual quotes or video fragments.
Conspiracy theorists also use other sources of epistemic knowledge to support their ideas, such as
spiritual, physical or emotional experiences (Harambam 2017).
As with people with psychotic paranoid delusions, the belief is not amenable to logical proof. If
things happen that do not fit with the idea, this is ignored or rethought so that it still fits within the
belief.
Reason might change but beliefs remains the same.

14. • Not suitable for subculture
In a world of the internet and social media, ideas spread like wildfire. Fact and fiction are not easy
to distinguish in the mediatized world.
There is a subculture online for almost every view, no matter how extreme or bizarre. This criterion
for a delusion has therefore become more difficult to use than before the internet age

15. Differences

16. Idiosyncratic experiences
• Delusion
Based on unusual experiences of self, reality or
interpersonal contacts.
Target are mostly the people with delusion.
Alone in their beliefs
• Conspiracy theory
Based on a secrecy that must be brought into
light together with the in-group.
Target is the group.
Not alone in their beliefs

17. 1. 41 years gentleman known to mental health services with a
diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.
Persistent delusional ideas
• Believes that he has a neuralink chip implanted into his brain, which
controls his thoughts and that is the reason for the voices he hears.
• The government was conspiring against him and covering it up to
“protect Manx care, to protect the government and to protect
tourism”.
• He has received a Victoria Cross from the Royal Family but they have
taken back it away from him and he knows their secrets and they
want him to shut down.
• Antipsychotic medications are given to delete his memories.

18. 2. 27 years male with a known diagnosis of hyperkinetic disorder and severe
depressive disorder in the past presented with delusional ideas. He was possibly
under the influence of drugs and alcohol. UDS was positive for cannabis. Delusional
ideas were only present in the initial presentation.
• There is a nuclear deal going between Russia and China to wipe the UK from the
face of earth and it is his duty to inform King and armed forces regarding this
deal.

19. • Is there a need to update the definition of paranoid
delusion?
• Does idiosyncrasy seems to be differentiating factor?
• If not, what other factors can we consider to differentiate?

20. References
• Birchall C. Knowledge goes pop: from conspiracy theory to gossip.
Oxford: Berg; 2006.
• Douglas KM, Sutton RM, Cichocka A. The psychology of conspiracy
theories. Curr Dir Psychol Sci 2017; 26: 538-42.
• Freeman D, Waite F, Rosebrock L, ea Coronavirus conspiracy beliefs,
mistrust, and compliance with government guidelines in England.
Psychol Med 2020; doi: 10.1017/S0033291720001890. Harambam J.
• Jensen M, Kane S. QAnon offenders in the United States. 2021.
https:// www.start.umd.edu/publication/qanon-offenders-united-
states Electoral Compass. Sense and nonsense about the coronavirus.
2020. https://www. Kieskompas.nl/nl/results/

21. Happy Weekend and Happy Dashain
Meanwhile in chitwan, Nepal