Combatting conspiratorial thinking with “empathy”, open-minded questions

Nathalie Rücker, Senior Manager for Capacity Building & Civic Action at ISD Germany, discussed with the Irish Independent about the appeal of conspiracy theories and extreme content during times of crisis and how these beliefs can contribute to an an “in the know” identity. Additionally, she explained, anyone is vulnerable to it as it can potentially fulfill psychological needs like regaining control and understanding chaotic events. Nathalie advises using empathy and asking open-ended questions to challenge extremist views, rather than judging or correcting loved ones.

The full article was published last month and is available on the Irish Independent.