Cedars, October 2020

Fall 2020 9 In contrast to the idea that coronavirus was accidentally carried out of a research lab, scientists say that COVID-19 is unique compared to previous coronaviruses that have been researched. According to a study published in the journal “Nature,” COVID-19 did not come from a pre-existing virus backbone. According to the South China Morning Post, research also shows that the spike protein on COVID-19, the part of the virus used to bind to cells, evolutionarily adapted to allow it to bind to human cells. It takes a long time for viruses to create these adaptations as they circulate through various animals over time and eventually recombine to be able to spread to humans. Shi Zengli, the director of the Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, checked lab records to see if the virus was one they had been studying. None of the coronaviruses they were researching matched COVID-19’s genetic sequence, according to Alliance for Science. Why Do Conspiracies Happen? Conspiracy theories like these can acquire sizable followings. People try to understand the situations they find themselves in by searching for answers. However, sometimes answers evade them and they are left in uncertainty. When research does not provide an immediate answer but conspiracy theories do, people tend to go for the immediate answer. This corresponds with research that found that people tend to turn toward conspiracies when they are anxious, according to psychology professor Betsy Linnell. “It just makes us feel more comfortable than admitting the fear or uncertainty that we could all be in danger,” Linnell said. People may turn to conspiracy theories because they desire to have some control over the situation. Conspiracy theories offer information that other people do not have. This gives the people who believe in it a sense that they can spot lies quickly and know who is trustworthy. However, according to the “Sage Journals” article titled, “The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories,” by Karen Douglas, Robbie Sutton and Aleksandra Cichocka, believing in conspiracies does not give the follower a complete sense of control. Instead, it gives a sense that their freedoms are being threatened. They have special knowledge, but remain powerless when it comes to actually affecting the situation. People may also choose to believe in conspiracy theories to give themselves a sense of belonging. Conspiracies offer communities where everyone believes the same thing, so instead of criticizing each other’s views, they build upon them. Believing in conspiracies gives people a sense that they have privileged information. According to the article, “The Psychology of Conspiracy,” believing in conspiracy theories is also a way for people to defend what they believe. Sometimes, when people’s beliefs are contradicted by expert research, conspiracy theories offer a way to hold on to the disproven information. By contrast, comparing information from a variety of sources helps reveal false information and give a bigger picture of what’s going on. Sources should also be examined carefully, especially scientific sources, to ensure that they are well researched and have undergone the full peer-review process. “Normally, science is a slow and deliberate process,” said Dr. Jenkins. “Right now it’s very quick. We’ve had bad science in some cases, flawed studies that are being put out there.” Michael Cleverley is a sophomore Journalism major with an Asian Studies minor. When not studying or working on a story for Cedars, he likes to write, knit and hang out with friends. Graphics by Lydia Lyons