UFO CULTS AND US: WHY WE GET SPUN

Blake Reno and Kyle Puckett

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF DECEPTION

We seek out weak evidence to support our existing beliefs.

We ignore evidence that undercuts those beliefs.

THE MOONBAT EFFECT

Barking Moonbat

Someone who sacrifices sanity for the sake of consistencyA phrase that is most often applied derisively to extreme

partisans

THIRD PERSON EFFECT

The notion that others will be affected by exposure to messages while we ourselves are immune

Includes Wishful Thinking

“In some matters we are unrealistic about how unrealistic we really are.”

PICTURES IN OUR HEADS TRAP

We are all captives of the “pictures in our heads,” which don’t always conform to the real world.

“The way in which the world is imagined determines at any particular moment what men will do.”

ROOT FOR MY SIDE TRAP

Our commitment to a cause not only changes our thinking, but also affects what we see—and don’t see—as we observe the world around us.

Includes:Confirmation Bias

Hostile Media Phenomenon

Confirmation Bias The tendency for people to come up with

reasons favoring their own side of a controversial issue, while not even

considering the other.

Hostile Media PhenomenonDetecting more negative than positive

references to one’s side and believing that media coverage is likely to sway neutral observers in the opposing direction from

one’s side.

“I KNOW I’M RIGHT!” TRAP

The more misinformed we are, the more strongly we insist that we’re correct.“This syndrome means that those who most need to revise the pictures in their heads are the very ones least likely to change their thinking. Of such people, it is often said that they are ‘often in error but never in doubt.’”

CLOSE CALL TRAP

When we are confronted with tough decisions and close calls, we tend to exaggerate the differences between our choices, also known as the Spreading of Alternatives Effect.

This natural human tendency makes us feel better about the choices we have made, even at the expense of accuracy or consistency.

COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

Occurs when deeply held beliefs are challenged by conflicting evidence. When our beliefs are challenged, rather than abandon these beliefs, we adopt an explanation that is compatible with what we already believe.

Other Examples…

UFO Cult Infiltration Truthout.org debacle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u

OGeGUG8GWk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPLa3CYcXEo stop at 45 sec.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbt4nF5SlpQ

Application to 1984

In 1984, the people are made to believe certain things because Big Brother has become infallible.

Because of this, Big Brother can tell the public anything it wants to, without the need for evidence, and the public will believe it because they “know” Big Brother is always right.

Connection to Language Awareness

Cognitive dissonance is mentioned in the articles we have read in Language Awareness, including Big Brother is Watching You.