We’ve just published How to Spot COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories, a short guide written with @stworg, @UlliEcker & @Sander_vdLinden. #ConspiracyTheory sks.to/conspir 
As the U.S. reopens & we expect to see conspiracy theories also rise to explain why COVID cases are spiking. Fortunately, there is a way we can inoculate the public against this type of misinformation - by learning the traits of conspiratorial thinking.
Learning the telltale thought patterns of conspiratorial thinking is key to inoculating ourselves and society against their corrosive influence of conspiracy theories. There are seven traits of conspiratorial thinking (summarized with acronym CONSPIR).
To put this guide together, we asked 42 Georgians to invent conspiracy theories that provide alternative explanations for the increase in COVID-19 cases. What was especially interesting was they were as likely to point at Democrats as they were to implicate Republicans.
Conspiratorial trait #1: Contradictory. Look for incoherence, conspiracy theorists are so committed to disbelieving the “official” account that it doesn’t matter that their theory is contradictory.
Conspiratorial trait #2: Overriding suspicion. A telltale sign of conspiratorial thinking is distrust of scientific data & scientific experts. This is particularly dangerous when it causes people to ignore advice from experts, such as social distancing measures.
Conspiratorial trait #3: Nefarious intent. Look for monstrous motives underpinning the conspiracy.
Conspiratorial trait #4: Something must be wrong. Because the conspiracy theorists believe the official account is wrong no matter what, even if they change elements of their theory, the conclusion remains the same.
Conspiratorial trait #5: Persecuted victim. Conspiracy theorists are inevitably the target of the conspiracy (but not just a victim, they’re also the hero fighting the conspiracy).
Conspiratorial trait #6: Immune to evidence. Any evidence that disproves the conspiracy theory is assumed to originate from the conspiracy itself. This is why it’s so hard to change the mind of a conspiracy theorist.
Conspiratorial trait #7: Reinterpreting randomness. Random events are assumed to be connected. “5G happened at the same time as COVID!” “There’s a biolab in Wuhan!” Coincidence? No such thing!!
Download our guide: How to Spot COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories at sks.to/conspir
(another useful resource is our earlier guide The #ConspiracyTheory Handbook sks.to/conspiracy)
(another useful resource is our earlier guide The #ConspiracyTheory Handbook sks.to/conspiracy)
