Short introduction to this modul Conspiracy theories, prevalent worldwide and across various domains, span from political controversies to scientific claims, often straddling the line between widely accepted and fringe beliefs. They can be challenging to verify, potentially leading to serious consequences when acted upon without factual basis, as seen in the case of the 2020 US election and the subsequent attack on the US Capitol. To navigate this complex landscape, it is imperative to critically analyze such theories and rely on credible sources of information. This module aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills to comprehend and address the multifaceted nature of conspiracy theories through various training activities. Below you will find a list of training activities you can implement with your class/young people with the purpose of gaining knowledge and abilities dealing with various aspects related to conspiracy theories. |
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What is a conspiracy theory?
The information bubble
Why do we believe in conspiracy theories?
Fact checking
What is critical thinking?
How to escape the rabbit hole?
Activity description
1 minute.
2. Share the conspiracy mapping sheet on the board and go through the list of conspiracy theories grouping them into the topics This is a collective discussion with the whole class.
3. When they have been grouped the trainer leads the discussion of finding out the patterns between any of the theories. Which ones are connected to each other, and as a side point if those groups of theories are connected to a specific worldview.
10 minutes.
4. Sometimes you have to build a BIG narrative of many different theories in order to create validation for a theory, but this has the implication that “everybody is in on it” and that is not very likely.
5. Discuss if there are any connections between the theories in each topic. Build as many BIG narrative combining the theories as you can, and then discuss if ALL of the narrative has to be true for the single theories to be true, and if this is a likely scenario.
10 min.
After the discussion, talk about that even though you seem to have more information and evidence by combining theories you really haven’t learned anything new - you have just made a more complex narrative that is even harder to prove. Any evidence that one of the theories are wrong will prove the others wrong as well, but usually people just make up new theories to put in that place. In the end, it doesn’t matter if anything is true anymore, because you get trapped in the rabbit hole of all the theories in combination.
