Conspiracy thinking and the delusion of an open mind
If I introduced you to someone and said, “Hey. This person is pretty cool except for one thing. No matter how much evidence you give them, they refuse to update their beliefs.” You’d probably not want to hang out with them, right? These people surround us on a daily basis, and most of them truly believe they keep an open mind. This is a common trait among conspiracy theorists, and it’s a delusion we don’t give nearly enough attention to.
We need to discuss what it means to have an “open mind” because it has somehow lost all of its meaning.
The conspiracy mindset and “doing your research”
There are many common tropes among conspiracy theorists, but the one that probably stands out the most is the “do your research” line. We all know what they mean by this, but just in case, maybe we should break down what it means to “research” something. This will help us transition into what it means to have an open mind.
On a basic level, doing research involves finding different sources to educate yourself about a specific topic. What many people either forget or don’t realize is that it’s much more than finding sources. All sources aren’t created equal, and this is probably the most important thing to understand.
For example, if I wanted to learn how to do my taxes, I’d have to do some research. If I went to an elementary school and asked a bunch of 7-year-old kids how to do my taxes, I’d be finding multiple sources to educate myself on a specific topic. But if I told you that this was my research process, you’d probably call me an idiot, and rightfully so.
Asking children who have never done taxes nor have much experience with money in any capacity wouldn’t really get me accurate information.
Conspiracy theorists often believe that their research is just as good as any other research. This is obviously not correct. The internet is a vast place, and you can find information on just about anything.
Originally, Google was pretty good at giving you the best information, but that’s no longer the case. I personally have years of experience in Search Engine Optimization. Today, it’s much easier to get on the front page of Google with some pretty garbage information.
I believe it was in an old Neil DeGrasse Tyson interview on a late show where he said one of the best lines I’ve ever heard in my life. It was something to the effect of, “There are a lot of people with bad ideas and bad opinions. The internet has made it so you can find a lot of people with the same bad ideas and bad opinions as you, which creates the illusion that you’re correct.”
This is where conspiracy theorists run into an issue with their research. They confuse quantity with quality, which is why it’s extremely important that we’re away of the “appeal to popularity” fallacy. Just because a lot of people believe something doesn’t make it correct. For example, there are enough people who believe the Earth is flat to fill entire conventions.
Here are some quick and easy ways to evaluate what comes up when you do research:
Check the source - is this person an expert in their field?
Evaluate the evidence - is the evidence anecdotal or legitimate?
Check the original source - People often cite something else. You’ll need to go to the original source. Is that person an expert in their field?
Consensus - Do the majority of experts agree with what you found?
Peer review - This is different than consensus but similar. Peer review means that people have put this information under a microscope and done whatever they can to disprove it. If it holds up, that’s science, baby.
Now, you’re probably saying, “But Chris, Joe Rogan had Robert Malone and Peter McCullough on his podcast. Their experts in their field, so that means it’s not bad research.”
Sorry, but this is a prime example of why we need the consensus and peer review aspect.
I don’t have time to get into it, but it’s a myth that a lone scientist or small group of scientists discovered the “truth” that nobody agrees with. I don’t know if anyone’s researched this, but I have a personal theory that this is something we believe because it’s such a regular plot point in fiction. It’s not reality.
Isn’t it strange how conspiracy thinking is one of the only times people accept this logic? If five experts said, “It’s actually safer to drive with your feet and keep your eyes closed,” we’d think tell them to kick rocks. But if what they’re saying aligns with our prior beliefs? We think they’ve made the scientific breakthrough of the millennium.
The delusion of an open mind
Now, we can get to the meat and potatoes of what we’re hear to talk about. I’ve noticed this for years, and it’s just as common as the “do your research” talking point.
If you listen to conspiracy theorists, they’ll try to sell you on the belief that they have an open mind. What goes along with this are by far my favorite conversation starters: “I don’t believe in conspiracies, but…” or “I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but…”
Have you ever met someone who proudly introduces themselves by saying, “Hello, I’m a conspiracy theorist.” No. So, if nobody thinks they’re a conspiracy theorist, then obviously there’s an issue.
Side note: You’ll also never meet anyone who says that they’re an elite, a racist, a misogynist or anything else that has a negative connotation like this.
So, what is an open mind?
I’m not going to do the thing where I give you a dictionary definition because I personally find that extremely annoying. I think it’s better to discuss the what a person means when they say they have an open mind.
When someone says they have an open mind, they’re saying the following:
“I am not rigid in my thinking.”
“When new evidence is presented to me, I update my beliefs.”
“I am willing to change my mind.”
“I am a critical thinker.”
“I am not someone who holds onto a belief or idea with a kung-fu grip and refuses to update my beliefs and opinions.”
It’s important to recognize this because it’s this delusional thinking that’s combined with identity protective cognition. The person creates a false idea of who they are.
I believe that there are a few things that happen to a person that helps them reinforce this idea in their mind.
First, they take minimal opinion changes as a way to say, “See. I do change my beliefs and opinions.” What I mean by minimal is something as trivial as believing you don’t like a certain vegetable, and then you try it, and it’s not bad. These are low-risk situations that have no large effect on a person’s life.
Next, their opinions change solely on “research” within their current reality filled with bad information. For example, if a flat Earther believed the flat Earth is surrounded by an ice wall and then updates it to believe you just fall off the edge, that’s not a great shift in beliefs.
What’s also extremely common is that a person completely abandons one conspiracy but continues to believe in others that are just ridiculous.
On a side note, I remember having a great Twitter convo (yes, these do exist), with some fell non-fiction nerds and Bill Sullivan (Scientist and author of Pleased to Meet Me: Genes, Germs, and the Curious Forces that Make Us Who We Are). We were asking, “Are people naturally curious or closed-minded?”
Around that time, I was really annoyed with how many people refused to update their beliefs, so I took the position that people are closed-minded and stubborn. But, someone argued that even conspiracy theorists are curious. That immediately clicked for me.
Along with the delusion of an open mind, their curiosity is like someone using a tool in the wrong way. These people may be the most curious people, but they hyper-focus on bad information and dive down terrible rabbit holes. Many get obsessive about their chosen conspiracy or conspiracies and spend hours finding terrible information that feeds their poor thinking. Combine that with the brutal algorithms, and it’s a recipe for disaster.
It’s not just conspiracy theorists
This is an important topic to discuss because it’s not limited to conspiracy theorists. We’re living one extremely polarized times, and many people have this same delusion of an open mind.
As we discussed, this idea comes from updating opinions on trivial things or simply going through the motions. By going through the motions, I mean listening to people with opposing views and thinking that’s good enough.
Now, it’s easy to argue, “The other side is just wrong. So, why would I update my beliefs if they’re just blatantly wrong about what they’re saying?” More often than not, this is cognitive dissonance masking itself as having an open mind as though the person actually took these things into consideration.
A broken clock is right twice a day. I’m a Bernie Sanders-loving lefty, but there are plenty of conservative arguments I agree with. For example, I think there are a lot of great arguments about personal responsibility and hard work. I just think there’s a balance between assisting those who need it and recognizing that all situations are not created equal.
But as I look around, I see far too many people who honestly believe that they have an open mind and have ever actually updated a belief based on someone challenging their worldview.
This is extremely important to me because updating my beliefs saved my life. In order to get sober, I had to have my beliefs challenged and change them, or I was going to die. All this other stuff happens to just be a byproduct of that experience.
What bothers me is that many people won’t acknowledge this or do this unless they’re faced with a life or death situation. As we discussed the other day, it’s often not all that advantageous to seek the truth and change your beliefs.
Unfortunately, the world was thrust into a life-or-death situation with COVID. I know we all remember the anti-vaxxers and COVID denialists on their death beds saying their regrets while their families watched them die. So, although I’m not a “slippery slope” guy, I can see how lying to yourself that you have an open mind can lead to suffering.
What’s the solution?
I love reading books about social signaling. I think it’s the most interesting human behavior. The amount of silly things we do to relay a message to the world is hilarious, especially when it comes at a cost like in the case of conspicuous consumption.
That being said, my main theory as to why people lie to themselves about having an open mind rather than just sticking to their principles is because of social signaling and status. By creating the illusion that you have an open mind, you’re signaling to the world that you’re a critical thinker who roots your beliefs in facts and not emotions or ideologies.
If you want a prime example of this, look no further than Joe Rogan. He as well as his cult following will go to the grave saying that he has an open mind.
Remember, we can’t have our mind so open that our brain falls out.
To bring it back to personal responsibility, I learned a long time ago that I can’t change others. What I can do is change myself. Aside from recognizing when I’m guilty of the same, I’m extremely conscious and particular about who I interact with and who I take seriously.
It’s not hard. If I think a person has the delusion of an open mind, I ask myself some simple questions:
Have I ever seen this person change their opinion?
Have I ever heard this person say the words, “I was wrong?”
If they’ve never done either of these things, I don’t take them seriously. And I also try to make sure I don’t let them infect my thinking with their delusions and hubris. This has helped me keep a good friend group as well as people I can have conversations with. In fact, it’s even helped me find a healthy relationship.
But at the end of the day, I think we all hate being a hypocrite. So, if you agreed with anything I said here, let’s try to make sure we don’t succumb to the delusion of an open mind as well.
If you enjoyed this post, it’d mean a lot to me if you shared it. Forward it in an email, share it on social media, or whatever suits your fancy.
To stay updated follow me on Twitter and Instagram @TheRewiredSoul and subscribe to the Substack.