CONNECT 2021

For some, the motivation to find, believe and share misinformation is connected to their belief in a conspiracy theory. And people with “conspiratorial ideation” tend to believe one conspiracy theory after another. “People are very bad at coping with uncertainty, so conspiracy theories are a powerful way of coping with things,” Motta said. “They explain things, and for some people, having any answer is better than no answer. Admitting that we don’t know something is very uncomforting. The difference is whether we turn to conspiracies to fill that void.” Motta said most misinformation and conspiracy theories are harmless. For example, an insistence that Lee Harvey Oswald didn’t assassinate President Kennedy doesn’t typically lead to extreme actions. But as the COVID-19 pandemic made clear, a refusal to believe the doctors and scientists touting the safety and efficacy of vaccines can directly lead to actions that result in deaths that were preventable. And cases like that are why he does what he does. “Because I’m researching topics getting so much attention right now, some people say, ‘Wow, 2020 and 2021 were great for you, weren’t they?’” Motta said. “No, they weren’t, because I’m a person first. I’m somebody living through one of the greatest human tragedies in our lifetime. That brings me no joy. But I am happy that my research can contribute to a better understanding of this pandemic and more effective ways to get out of it. That includes the opportunities I’ve had to talk to policymakers or people close to them, to help influence ways they think about trying to get people vaccinated.” “People are very bad at coping with uncertainty, so conspiracy theories are a powerful way of coping with things. They explain things, and for some people, having any answer is better than no answer. Admitting that we don’t know something is very uncomforting.” DR. MATTHEW MOTTA Dr. Matthew Motta OSU COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SC I ENCES 7