Tuesday, June 29, 2021, 11:30 AM – 1 PM EDT
Shauna Bowes, PhD Candidate, Clinical Psychology, Graduate Practicum Student, The Nia Project
“Looking Under the Tinfoil Hat: The Psychological Correlates of Conspiratorial Ideation”
What are the psychological factors that contribute to conspiratorial ideation? This question is at the heart of many studies in psychological science today, understandably so given the spate of recent events indicating that conspiracy belief is arguably more important now than ever. In the research program she undertook as a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology here at Emory (where she also graduated with highest honors in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology), Shauna Bowes examined the psychological correlates of conspiracy belief in order to better understand why conspiracy theories are universally appealing. She will discuss the arc of the research program, in which she worked closely with Scott Lilienfeld until his death last fall, describing two studies focused on the psychology of conspiratorial ideation. And she will explore the implications of her results and offer insights for future research, as well.