Scientists Now Testing ‘Vaccine’ to ‘Inoculate’ People Against Climate Change Denial
By Matt Agorist
TheFreeThoughtProject.com
June 12, 2017
Two preliminary studies were recently conducted to test the effects of ‘inoculating’ people against believing a certain way in regards to climate change. The studies were carried out as a means of combating the existing information and disinformation that challenges the scientific consensus over the risks of climate change — using information ‘vaccines.’
A recent report from Vox, titled, Scientists are testing a “vaccine” against climate change denial, makes the case for these inoculation procedures to help people be more prone to accept facts instead of holding mistaken beliefs.
On the surface, this sounds wonderful. However, if we look at it from a scientific stance — applying scrutiny and skepticism — it becomes quite worrisome.
It is important to note that while we have scientists on our staff, no one here at the Free Thought Project is a climate scientist. For this reason, the Free Thought Project will not attempt to deny the human element in climate change nor will we attempt to purport the exact effect humans have on climate change.
However, to understand the disquieting nature of a program that inoculates young people against their natural tendencies of skepticism — one need not be an expert in the field of climate science.
As Vox reports, psychologists have known for decades that people are more resistant to misinformation if they’re warned about it beforehand. Teens who are warned about the dangers of smoking are less likely to succumb to their friends’ arguments in favor of it; people who are warned about pro-sugar campaigns by soda companies are less likely to fall for them. These “inoculation messages” can even work retroactively, changing the minds of those who have already been influenced by misinformation.
The Rest…HERE
