As rapidly as the Coronavirus spread all over the world, conspiracy theories on the spread of the virus – mainly via social media – followed: the virus was manmade in a laboratory, 5G causes Corona and Bill Gates is behind it. Social Psychologist Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen sheds his light on this phenomenon by illuminating how various psychological factors including emotions, basic cognitive processes, and intergroup conflict, increase people’s susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs.
Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Associate Professor in Social and Organizational Psychology, VU Amsterdam, is interested in the dark side of human beings, particularly in the context of politics, law, and society. His research has three main thematic pillars: conspiracy theories, unethical behavior, and radical ideologies.