Learning Update 8

Last week we learned about popular conspiracy theories and the reasoning behind why people are more likely to believe in certain ones compared to others. I found it interesting that people are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories when they are trying to rationalize in times of conflict or stress. Humans have a desire to make sense of the world around them in times of chaos. We see this with the conspiracy theories around 9/11 or JFK's assassination because people are looking for answers during fearful times. 

An example that stood out to me during class was the conspiracy around how people believed that the COVID-19 vaccines contained a microchip so that the government could track everyone. COVID-19 was the first large-scale global pandemic since influenza in the early 20th century, so it was the first pandemic that (mostly) everyone was experiencing in their lifetime. The fear and uncertainty that surrounded this time caused some Americans to think it must be some sort of hoax for the government to gain control over them. However, in this day and age it is dangerous to promote false conspiracies with how rapidly technology allows them to spread -- especially when the health and lives of millions were in a precarious position. Vaccines are created to save lives and the rapid scientific research that had to occur during COVID was what allowed for the progression of the pandemic to slow. When so many people are not educated in science or immunology, it is easy for them to hear "mRNA vaccine" and immediately begin to fear, rationalize, and ultimately begin a conspiracy theory.