The Turnstone: talking about vaccines #12
Out of the rabbit hole
Welcome to The Turnstone: talking about vaccines. Here, I share resources to help you have kind and non-judgemental conversations with people who are uncertain about, or opposed to, vaccination. I send these resources out every Wednesday - if you’d like them emailed to you directly, you can sign up to my mailing list.
Last week, I shared resources to help you understand more about conspiracy theories and the people who follow them. This time, I look at what the evidence says about how people can get out of conspiracy theory rabbit holes, or avoid going down them in the first place.
Key messages for people dealing with friends and family who are following conspiracy theories (3 minute read)
Article with general advice on talking with people who are following conspiracy theories (5 minute read)
How should you talk to friends and relatives who believe conspiracy theories? - BBC News
Go viral! (5 minute game)
There’s evidence that simple computer games can help inoculate people against misinformation. Here’s an example of a game from the Social Decision Making Lab at Cambridge University. Have a go and help inoculate yourself against misinformation.
Play GO VIRAL! | Stop Covid-19 misinformation spreading (goviralgame.com)
Article about the evidence behind the game approach (6 minute read)
Advice from cult experts (9 minute audio)
Cult Deprogramming Experts Combat Disinformation By Helping Conspiracy Theory Believers
Maintaining relationships with people who are down the rabbit hole (10 minute read)
Based mainly on the work of Mick West (see the in-depth section below for more from Mick West)
The Conspiracy Theory Handbook (12 minute read)
A guide to understanding conspiracy theories, conspiratorial thinking and what the evidence says about combatting them.
ConspiracyTheoryHandbook.pdf (climatechangecommunication.org)
In depth
Conversation between Mick West and Steven Hassan
Mick West has written a book that’s a “how to” guide to talking a friend out of a conspiracy rabbit hole. Steven Hassan has spent 40 years helping people escape from mind control and cults. The conversation is a little rambling, but contains useful insights. Both of their websites are also worth a look and I’ve linked to them below the video.
Conspiracy Theories, Cults and How to Help Friends and Loved Ones with Debunker Mick West - Freedom of Mind Resource Center (51 minute video)
Metabunk (Mick West’s website)
Cult Expert Steven Hassan's Freedom of Mind Resource Center (Steven Hassan’s website)
Let me know what you think in the comment box below. And if you know someone who might find these resources useful, please share The Turnstone with them.