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Furious Tory Row Breaks Out at State Visit Reception as Boris Defends Record in Government Wed Sep 17, 2025 19:30 | Will Jones
A furious Tory row broke out at a state visit reception on Tuesday night as Boris Johnson defended his record in government before a gathering of senior Conservative and Reform figures.
The post Furious Tory Row Breaks Out at State Visit Reception as Boris Defends Record in Government appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Trump?s Genius is He Understands There Are No Ordinary People Wed Sep 17, 2025 17:52 | Joanna Gray
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The post Trump’s Genius is He Understands There Are No Ordinary People appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Activists Circulate Guide on How to Ground ?One In, One Out? Flights Wed Sep 17, 2025 15:42 | Will Jones
Pro-migrant campaigners have circulated a guide on how to ground 'one in, one out' flights, telling activists how to contact Air France and prevent the planes from taking off.
The post Activists Circulate Guide on How to Ground ‘One In, One Out’ Flights appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
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Keir Starmer?is facing a disaster in Wales as a poll shows Labour in freefall behind Reform and set to lose the First Minister post for the first time since devolution.
The post Starmer Faces Disaster in Wales as Poll Shows Labour in Freefall Behind Reform and Set to Lose First Minister Post for First Time appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
The Debate: This House has Confidence in the President-Elect of the Oxford Union Wed Sep 17, 2025 11:37 | Will Jones
Should the Oxford Union have confidence in its President-Elect, George Abaraonye, whose comments celebrating Charlie Kirk's murder were leaked this week? Is it a matter of cancel culture or basic decency? Join the debate.
The post The Debate: This House has Confidence in the President-Elect of the Oxford Union appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
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Jump To Comment: 1 2 3I am a believer in some of the wilder Conspiracy Theories, like the one that they made up the story about Weapons of Mass Distruction in Iraq...... I know, 'crazy' right! Coming in at number 645 on my list of conspiracies is the belief that our ESRI here in Ireland is just a Government mouthpiece, using it's 'scientific' research to provide proof for whatever the Government policy of the day is. The ESRC which you are working for on this 'survey' would be a sister organisation to our own ESRI
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/
So, no thanks, I don't want to give you an insight into my psychology because ..... well.... lets just say I don't think our governments are working for the general good of our populations and more specifically I seriously doubt they are studying the very people who question their incessant lies to help us. Help demonise us morelike.
1. Would it be fair/accurate or correct to say that you are conducting research into the psycholoogy of conspiracy theorists, as opposed to the psychology of conspiracy theories? It may seem like a semantic point, however, I think it is important.
2. Can you let me know the context of your research: what is the title/subject matter of your Phd?
3. Is the model/theory you are using a social one or a therapy-type, individual psychological state-type one?
4. What is your definition-for the purposes of your research-of a conspiracy theory?
Thanks.
Hi there, huge thanks to whomever posted this here for me, and massive thanks to anyone who has filled in the survey.
To respond to the questions above...
1. While I wouldn't say I'm looking at the psychology of 'conspiracy theorists', it is certainly correct to say I'm looking at people's beliefs rather than at conspiracy theories themselves. My work has no implications for the objective truth of any particular claim of conspiracy, nor is it intended to. Rather I'm interested in how people come to hold the beliefs that they do, whether it is believing a conspiracy or disbelieving a conspiracy.
2. My entire PhD is concerned with belief (and disbelief) in conspiracies
3. My research methods are based in experimental psychology - experimental in the sense that I conduct empirical research, as opposed to offering therapy. I'm look for general trends in the population, rather than examining individuals.
4. The definition of conspiracy theory is a complex issue! The short answer is 'the assumption of conspiracy when other explanations are more probable'. If you have 25 minutes to spare you can listen to me speak about defining conspiracy theory in much greater depth here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6s_Jw3RU9g