Debunking conspiracy theories

With another holiday season approaching, many families plan on getting together again to catch-up and reconnect. Hopefully, given the raging pandemic in most states, these family get-togethers will be virtual.

With more Americans believing conspiracy theories than ever before in recent history, such gatherings can be awkward for those unbelievers. But it doesn’t have to be.

As a refresher, most conspiracy theories rely on the belief of coordinated and systematic efforts of multiple, disparate parties (sometimes hundreds) working in secret to pull off a timely, complex task that companies, organizations, or governments would have difficulty getting done in the most optimistic of circumstances. Think the death of JFK or the destruction of the World Trade Center buildings on 9/11 or, more recently, the alleged widespread vote fraud in the 2020 election.

You may be able to successfully help debunk such conspiracy theories in friends and family by keeping the following tips in mind.

1. Consider how important it is to you to challenge your friend or family member. If you proceed challenging the person’s beliefs, it will possibly put the relationship at risk if you push too hard against a firmly held belief (just like if you were arguing against a person’s religious beliefs). People who believe in conspiracy theories tend to…