Latest news with #PersonalityAndSocialPsychologyBulletin
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Are you a Flat Earther? You're probably ARROGANT: People who believe in conspiracy theories are 'massively overconfident', study finds
When it comes to conspiracy theories, there are some pretty extreme ones out there. While some people insist the Earth is flat, others are certain the world is secretly ruled by reptilian humanoids. Now, a study has revealed that people who believe in these concepts are likely to be hugely overconfident. And it could go some way to explaining why it's impossible to try and change their minds. Analysis of eight studies has found a consistent pattern among people who believe in conspiracy theories – they tend to be overconfident in their cognitive abilities and significantly overestimate how much others agree with them. Scientists from Cornell University carried out the research in a bid to understand why people believe in wild claims, especially those that have been widely rejected by experts and the broader public. They carried out eight separate studies involving 4,181 participants in the US who were asked to complete various cognitive tasks. They were also asked to estimate how well they believed they had performed. By doing this, the researchers were able to work out how overconfident someone was. A participant who scored poorly but believed they did well would score highly for this trait. The team then compared these overconfidence scores to how strongly individuals endorsed conspiracy theories, including that the moon landing was faked or that vaccines are part of a government control plot. Analysis, published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, revealed a strong link between overconfidence and belief in extreme conspiracy theories. The team also discovered that while only 12 per cent of participants believed in conspiracy theories, those who did believe them thought that nine in 10 people shared their views. The 'false consensus' effect was strongest among the most overconfident individuals who not only believed incorrect things but also wrongly assumed that most others shared their views. 'One of the thing that seems to distinguish - at least some - conspiracy theorists is not just that their beliefs seem to be based on poor evidence, but also that they appear so confident in their beliefs,' study author Gordon Pennycook, an associate professor at Cornell University, told PsyPost. 'The tendency to be overconfident in general may increase the chances that someone falls down the rabbit hole, so to speak, and believe conspiracies. 'In fact, our results counteract a prevailing narrative about conspiracy theorists: that they know that they hold fringe beliefs and revel in that fact.' He added that particularly overconfident conspiracy believers 'really seem to be miscalibrated in a major way'. 'Not only are their beliefs on the fringe, but they are very much unaware of how far on the fringe they are,' he added. The study reads: 'Why do people believe dubious conspiracy theories? 'Although some research supports the idea that conspiracies fulfill important needs and motivations, our findings support the argument that an important element of conspiracy belief is cognitive. 'We find that conspiracy believers are characterized by weaker analytic reasoning skills and, just as much, by a stronger disposition to toward overconfidence. 'This overconfidence is also linked with a propensity to be largely unaware that most others disagree about believed conspiracy theories.' The team warned that this has implications for efforts to fight the spread of misinformation as those who are at the most need of intervention are likely the least willing to recognise that they may be wrong. WHAT IS FLAT EARTH THEORY? Those who believe the Flat Earth Theory claim our planet is shaped like a flat disc instead of a sphere. Because Earth's surface looks and feels flat when we walk around it, the conspiracy theorists denounce all evidence to the contrary. The leading theory suggests Earth is a disc with the Arctic Circle in the centre and Antarctica, a 150-foot-tall (45-metre) wall of ice, around the rim. Theorists claim that satellite images and evidence pointing to a spherical Earth are part of a 'round Earth conspiracy' orchestrated by NASA and other government agencies. Proponents of the bizarre theory also claim the Earth is stationary in space rather than orbiting the sun. Some believe the Earth is covered by a glass dome which sits over the flat disc. The international scientific community has consistently denounced the Flat Earth theory. Decades of space imagery and peer-reviewed astronomical research back their claims.
Forbes
05-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
1 Unique Way To Be More Productive — According To A Psychologist
How do we understand and organize the daily events of our life? It appears we use mental templates or 'scripts' to form coherent narratives of these events. These scripts are like a library of patterns that help us predict and make sense of what's happening around us. For example, we know what usually happens in a restaurant, which is ordering from a menu, eating and paying for your food. Interestingly, a 2024 study published in Current Biology suggests that our brains can divide time into meaningful sections or 'chapters.' The change is not just mental — it reflects in our brain activity. So, our brains don't just passively respond to the world around us; they actively organize events based on what we're paying attention to and what we already know. This tendency can be harnessed to improve focus and manage everyday tasks more efficiently, reducing stress and helping you achieve a better work-life balance. Here are some practical strategies to use meaningful chapters to have more productive days. A 2018 study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin suggests that there are three significant aspects of what constitutes meaning in life and the ability to feel like we're part of something larger than ourselves. These aspects are significance, purpose and coherence. Researchers found that routines can play an important role in achieving coherence and meaning. They often align with important goals, such as daily exercise or completing tasks at work. Even though routines can feel monotonous, they can include a series of intentional actions that move you toward meaningful objectives. Structuring your day around meaningful personal goals can encourage you to make the time to manage stress more effectively, sleep better, eat nutrient-dense foods and be more active, all of which contribute to your well-being and sharpen your focus. Setting clear boundaries between work and rest periods, such as by allocating specific times for tasks reduces distractions and helps you concentrate on one thing at a time. This prevents multitasking, which for many, can reduce focus and productivity. One helpful way to do this is to journal or reflect on the day's chapters to get a sense of what your day already looks like, and then break it down into new, meaningful chapters on paper. Create a routine according to your individual needs, reflecting on what would truly benefit your personal evolution. You can also use time-blocking strategies like the Pomodoro technique to create natural 'chapters' in your day and avoid burnout. It's best to curate these time breaks according to how long it actually takes for you to feel rested and how long you find that you can focus completely. Reframing routine activities, like going for a walk or going grocery shopping, as intentional 'chapters' can boost motivation. For instance, your morning workout can be your 'wellness' chapter, and your grocery haul can be part of your 'self-nourishment' chapter. Additionally, research shows that incorporating simple, undemanding activities like folding clothes or doing laundry as 'breaks' in between demanding tasks can enhance creativity and problem-solving abilities. For those whose minds tend to wander, such tasks encourage mind wandering, which seems to help the brain unconsciously connect ideas and aid creativity. This is a great reminder that slowing down can be productive. Such activities can help creative individuals who find it difficult to structure their day, as mundane tasks become more meaningful for them. These chapters are times for their minds to roam freely, while completing chores that benefit them, but don't drain them further. Align your chapters with your natural energy cycles. Everyone has different levels of energy throughout the day and you need to find what works for you. For example, your energy level may be the highest in the early morning, so it may be best to get a workout in at the time. Schedule demanding tasks during energy peaks and use lows for lighter activities. It's also worth noting that men and women function on different hormonal cycles. While men have a 24-hour cycle with their testosterone peaking early in the day and slowing down in the evening, women have a 28 day reproductive hormone cycle. So, their energy levels can fluctuate depending on the time of the month. Research also shows that circadian rhythms can impact men and women differently, with women experiencing greater cognitive impairments at night. So, women may benefit from scheduling more cognitively demanding work earlier in the day. Defining your chapters provides a powerful framework for organizing your day, enhancing focus and reducing stress. Let each chapter of your day bring you closer to achieving your goals, one step at a time. Are you mindful about how you spend your time? Take this science-backed test to learn more: Mindful Attention Awareness Scale
