Studies have shown that people with poor deliberation skills are more likely to fall for conspiracy theories. Deliberation is important for both those who reject conspiracy theories and those who support them. Updated thinking is important.

【’Smart People’ Fall for Conspiracy Theories, or Academic Journal Papers… ‘Not Funny’ Study Findings Inspire Psychologist】
https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20231101-OYT1T50199/

・’Are we “too smart” to get into conspiracy theories, or do we get into them when we’re dissatisfied with society?’ Two professors examine such things. They co-wrote the paper.

・Two hypotheses were used as a starting point. One is that “people who can think well are less likely to believe in conspiracy theories. The other is that “people who are socially anxious and dissatisfied are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories.”

・In addition to that, the two wanted to examine, “Whether sometimes it’s easier to fall for conspiracy theories because you’re smart.”

・The results showed a strong tendency for those “prone to believing conspiracy theories” to be “less deliberative.”

・People who judge things intuitively are more likely to believe in conspiracies, especially regarding Corona. Conversely, “the more logically one can think about things, the less likely one is to fall for conspiracy theories.”

・The results also showed that people with higher levels of social anxiety and dissatisfaction were more likely to be addicted to conspiracy theories. Notably, the stronger the “anomie” (i.e., the belief that the world is getting worse), the more likely people are to be inclined toward conspiracy theories

・However, we could not find any amplification effect of the combination of these two tendencies. Therefore, the underlying theme of “socially disaffected intellectuals are more likely to fall for conspiracy theories” did not emerge.

・Both those with social anxiety and dissatisfaction and those with low deliberativeness were more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. But the results also showed that deliberativeness was a more consistent influence

・Anyone can hone their deliberativeness. Amid the flood of information in newspapers, on TV, and on the Internet, “It is not just a matter of being exposed to information, but also of thinking for oneself why such information is being disseminated, who is disseminating it, and how correct it is, which leads to ‘deliberation’.

These are the quotes from the article

Increase deliberativeness = keep thinking (updated thinking)

I think I am a fan of conspiracy theories, since I even write these miscellaneous blogs.^^

However, I try to be careful not to believe conspiracy theories as they are.

According to the article above,

If you are less deliberate, you are more likely to fall for conspiracy theories. Easier to believe in conspiracy theories.

Indeed, I think it is very important to ponder.

According to the dictionary, the meaning of deliberation is “to think well. To give full thought to. Contemplation.”

Thinking, in other words, you haven’t stopped thinking. I keep thinking.

I think this is a very important point.

I recently read a book called “The Wonderful Human Body.

In the book, it describes the history of the evolution of medicine,

I learned that in just the past 100 years or so, many medical conventions have been overturned or updated. (It is amazing to think that there was a time when hand washing before childbirth or surgery was not the norm.)

What I’m trying to say is,

That common sense, correct answers, and all information in today’s world are constantly changing and updating.

I think this is true for everything, not just medicine.

Since so much around us keeps changing and updating, I think we ourselves (our thoughts) need to keep changing and updating as well.

In this sense, it is very important to think things through.

Let’s put it this way,

Because things and events don’t have periods, thoughts don’t have periods either.

Things and events go on with commas, so thoughts go on with commas.

I feel like “getting into conspiracy theories” or “believing in conspiracy theories” kind of stops the thinking there, but “thinking about conspiracy theories” I think is OK. (There are conspiracy theories that are informative.)

I dare say,

Don’t stop thinking by labeling everything a “conspiracy theory.”

And you can’t get into conspiracy theories and stop thinking,

Don’t immediately dismiss conspiracy theories and stop thinking about them.

The key, after all, is to keep thinking. Pondering.

Because the world’s common sense and everything else keeps changing and updating.

The article above was about pondering so as not to get hooked on conspiracy theories,

For my part, I thought it was important to keep thinking and pondering, whether you agree or disagree with conspiracy theories.

Also, one last thing I strongly think about,

There are so many people on social networking sites who accuse me of reversing or changing what I have said in the past.

However,

From an update perspective, there is nothing wrong with making changes, in fact, I think it is the right thing to do.

If you realize you were wrong, why not apologize and make it right? (Of course, it depends on the degree.)

The world is updated, you are updated, and the other party is updated. Let us mutually recognize and accept this. And let’s create a good flow. Of course, there is no end to the flow.

See you then.

It is important not to think in terms of 100% or 0%, black and white, but to create a blank space (a playful area) in your thinking, such as 90% or 80%. Without a blank space, it will be difficult to make changes or corrections.