It Spreads Like a Disease – Pandemics and Conspiracy Theories
It Spreads Like a Disease – Pandemics and Conspiracy Theories
Author(s): Alfredas Buiko, Julita SlipkauskaitėSubject(s): Politics and society, Social Theory, Crowd Psychology: Mass phenomena and political interactions, Health and medicine and law
Published by: Lietuvos mokslų akademijos leidykla
Keywords: epidemics and pandemics; conspiracy theories; disease; monological belief system: conspiratorial thinking;
Summary/Abstract: This paper analyses what kind of conspiracy theories are generated because of the emergence and spread of diseases. Conspiracy theory narratives that are generated during the different kinds of pandemics – cholera, AIDS and COVID-19 – are described and analysed, with special attention given to COVID-19 conspiracy theories. We raise a conceptual issue for further research indicating that the disease-related conspiracies do not perfectly square with the current psychological interpretations of conspiracy beliefs.
Journal: Filosofija. Sociologija
- Issue Year: 33/2022
- Issue No: 3
- Page Range: 318-324
- Page Count: 7
- Language: English