The Truthers Out There: Conspiracy Movements, Threat Management, and the Long Pandemic

Conspiracy theories have surged to centre stage in politics, media, and particularly in the field of behavioural threat management, impacting our assessment of risk across domains of terrorism, stalking, political violence, racial and religious attacks, online harm, institutional security, and close protection.

Despite the urgent need for effective interventions that address the risks generated by conspiracy movements, the topic remains subject to extensive conjecture, uncertainty, and the challenge of evaluating movements that are inherently provocative, irrational, and defy clear classification.

This masterclass examines the history and emergence of modern conspiracy theories, their social and psychological function, and reviews research and frameworks useful for management of behavioural threats arising from conspiracy beliefs and movements.

Topics covered in this half-day workshop include:

• History, trends, and impact of modern conspiracy movements, including qanon, vaccine scepticism, anti-5g, and emerging forms of conspiracy belief.
• The psychology and sociology of conspiracy beliefs. Why are they suddenly so popular? Who is vulnerable to conspiracy belief and why do adherents reject factual information?
• The influence of media and political culture on conspiracy movements and related threats.
• Current and novel threats emerging from conspiracy beliefs and movements - types, features, and function.
• Strategies, methods, and frameworks for assessing and managing conspiracy-related threats.