Conspiracy and JFK Assassination Theories: Key Concepts and Detection

What is a conspiracy?

A real, provable agreement between two or more people to commit an illegal or harmful act.

What is a conspiracy theory?

An explanatory belief that claims a secret plot by powerful actors, often without sufficient evidence.

What is the key difference between a conspiracy and a conspiracy theory?

Conspiracies are proven plots; conspiracy theories lack strong evidence and resist falsification.

What emotional factors contribute to belief in conspiracy theories?

Fear, anxiety, anger, uncertainty, and trauma or major social disruption.

What is Proportionality Bias?

The belief that big events must have big causes, making it hard to accept that a lone individual could change history.

What does the Illusion of Control refer to in the context of conspiracy theories?

The belief that events are controlled by someone, not random, which makes randomness feel threatening.

What is Narrative Bias?

A preference for clear, coherent stories over messy reality, which conspiracy theories provide.

What is Intuitive Patternicity?

The tendency to see meaningful patterns where none exist.

What social factors contribute to belief in conspiracy theories?

Distrust in institutions, group identity, social media echo chambers, and historical injustices.

Which demographic factors influence belief in conspiracy theories?

Race & ethnicity, political identity, education level, and psychological traits.

What was the date of the Kennedy assassination?

November 22, 1963.

Who was the victim of the assassination on November 22, 1963?

President John F. Kennedy.

What was the official conclusion regarding the Kennedy assassination?

Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone.

What is one major conspiracy theory about the Kennedy assassination?

The theory that multiple shooters were involved.

What does the Back-and-to-the-Left movement theory suggest?

That Kennedy's head movement indicates he was shot from the front.

What is the Magic Bullet Theory?

The claim that a single bullet caused multiple wounds in Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally.

What evidence debunks the Multiple Shooters theory?

Acoustic evidence was shown to be unreliable and no physical evidence of another shooter was found.

How is the Back-and-to-the-Left movement explained?

By neuromuscular reaction and the motion of the car, supported by video analysis.

What supports the plausibility of the Magic Bullet Theory?

The bullet path is plausible when considering the seating positions of Kennedy and Connally.

What evidence implicates Lee Harvey Oswald in the Kennedy assassination?

Rifle found at the Texas School Book Depository, fingerprints on the rifle, bullet fragments matched, and witnesses placed him at the scene.

What are the five elements of the Conspiracy Theory Detection Kit?

1. Unfalsifiability, 2. Overinterpretation, 3. Contradictory Beliefs, 4. Intentionality Assumption, 5. Self-Sealing Logic.

What is a key takeaway regarding conspiracy theories?

They are about psychology, emotion, and identity, and understanding why people believe them is essential for critical evaluation.