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“There are few subjects today so widely discussed and yet so misunderstood as conspiracy theories, which makes Gaskin’s interdisciplinary approach so vital. Who believes conspiracy theories and why? How do you distinguish between conspiracy theories and actual conspiracies? And how should you engage with people who believe the moon landing didn’t happen, or that 9/11 was an inside job, or that there’s a deep state that secretly runs the country? These answers, and many more, are illuminated in this most vital contribution to the national conversation.”

—Michael Shermer, PhD, publisher, Skeptic magazine


“Gaskin has written a solid, evidence-based guide to why ordinary people end up believing conspiracy theories, and what can be done about it. He covers the psychology, the history, and even the math of why big conspiracies tend to fall apart. The chapter on debunking is refreshingly realistic—facts alone rarely work, empathy and patience matter, and sometimes nothing works at all. If you're studying conspiracy beliefs, this is a great place to start.”

—Mick West, author of Escaping the Rabbit Hole

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About the Author

Stéphane Gaskin, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Dawson College in Montréal, Québec, Canada, where he has taught a course on the psychology of conspiracy theories for the past several years, and Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at McGill University. Trained as a behavioral neuroscientist, his research background is in the neurobiology of learning and memory, and he has turned his attention to the psychology of belief, drawing on the critical thinking and misinformation literature to examine how people form, maintain, and revise beliefs in the face of conspiracy theories.

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Audience

Students and instructors across the social sciences.

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Course Use

Will serve as a text in undergraduate courses on conspiracy theories, taught in psychology, communication, sociology, political science, and related fields.