What is a conspiracy theory? Are conspiracy theories fueling extremism? And how are these theories pulling people toward radical ideas?
Join us for the latest episode of the Jason Institute podcast, where our host, Cristina Pessina, sits down with Professor Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen, a behavioral scientist who specializes in conspiracy theories, unethical behavior, and radical ideologies. Together, they investigate what makes a conspiracy theory, why these ideas develop, why they spread, and why so many people today are embracing them, sometimes with dangerous consequences.
This episode explores the powerful impact of the “us vs. them” mentality, examines the roles of social media, and the responsibility political leaders and pop culture figures might have in amplifying these beliefs. What makes conspiracy theories so captivating? Is there anything we can do collectively to curb their spread, or are we on a path we can’t escape?
Tune in to explore one of today’s most urgent and rapidly evolving security challenges.
With: Professor Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen
Prof. Dr. Jan-Willem van Prooijen is a behavioral scientist specializing in radicalization, extremism, and conspiracy thinking. He is an Associate Professor at VU Amsterdam, Senior Researcher at NSCR, and Endowed Professor at Maastricht University. His work focuses on conspiracy theories, unethical behavior, and radical ideologies. He has published in top journals and authored books like The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories and HOAX. Awarded the ISJR Early Career Contribution Award in 2006, he also served as ISJR president (2016–2018) and is a frequent media contributor.