Echoes of a Conspiracy: Birthers, Truthers, and the Cultivation of Extremism

摘要

A significant number of Americans express sympathies for conspiracy theories about BarackrnObama’s birth and George Bush’s role in the 9/11 attacks. This study sought to test the rolernof ideological media in perpetuating these beliefs. Specifically, experiments were conductedrnto determine if ideologically homogeneous media echo-chambers could cultivate belief inrnconspiracy theories and whether debunking information would reverse this belief. Resultsrnfound that media echo-chambers increased belief in conspiracy theories though debunkingrninformation reversed or minimized this effect. Results confirm the role of ideological mediarnin spreading extremist attitudes but also demonstrate the value of debunking efforts.