Online Conspiracies & Virtual Cults: Social Extremes in Our Hyperpartisan Age
Our digital universe is full of information, and misinformation, swirling about constantly, sampled in bits and bytes, most of it rarely gaining more than passing attention. How then does misinformation swirl up into a popular conspiracy theory? How do some conspiracy theories, such as Qanon, eventually gain a loyal cult-like following without physical contact between members or between leaders and followers?
In this episode, The Purple Principle speaks with three noted cultic experts on these issues as well as the cult-like aspects of the recent Trump Presidency.
Join us for “Online Conspiracies & Virtual Cults” and reflect whether group dynamics have overwhelmed logic and conviction in your life, or that of a loved one. And consider the purple and principled advice our cultic experts convey: the important issue is not where groups fall on the political spectrum, left or right or center, but rather, whether the elements of real democracy are at work, such as consulting external information and questioning internal authority.
Original Music by Ryan Adair Rooney
Twitter: @purpleprincipl
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Our website: https://fluentknowledge.com/shows/the-purple-principle/online-conspiracies
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Our guests
Doni Whitsett, USC
Dr. Steven Hassan's Freedom of Mind Resource Center
@CultExpert
@RBersteinLMFT
Rachel Bernstein, MFT
IndoctriNation Podcast
Steven Hassan (2020). The Cult of Trump: A Leading Cult Expert Explains How the President Uses Mind Control. Simon & Schuster.
Additional Resources
Heaven's Gate. Encyclopedia Britannica.
The Family International. Encyclopedia Britannica.
Unification Church. Encyclopedia Britannica.
Karen M. Douglas, Robbie M. Sutton, and Aleksandra Cichocka (2017). “The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories.” Current Directions in Psychological Science Vol. 26(6) 538–542.
Evita March & Jordan Springer (2019). “Belief in conspiracy theories: The predictive role of schizotypy, Machiavellianism, and primary psychopathy.” PLOS One.
Aleksandra Cichocka, Marta Marchlewska, Agnieszka Golec de Zavala (2016).
“Does Self-Love or Self-Hate Predict Conspiracy Beliefs? Narcissism, Self-Esteem, and the Endorsement of Conspiracy Theories.” Social Psychology and Personality Science Vol. 7(2):157-166. Diana Tumminia (1998). “How Prophecy Never Fails: Interpretive Reason in a Flying-Saucer Group.” Sociology of Religion, Vol. 59(2), 157–170.
Richard Ostling (2/22/82). “Witness Under Prosecution.” Time.
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