2 chapters across the catalog
Scientific American is criticized for publishing an article by Sander van der Linden regarding the psychology of conspiracy theorists. The article links belief in "inside jobs" or faked moon landings to feelings of powerlessness. The hosts argue that the publication has abandoned rigorous science in favor of "pop science" and political narratives.
The discussion focuses on the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and its influence on public perception. Sander van der Linden's research is highlighted as a method of using social psychology to frame climate skepticism as a psychological defect. The hosts argue that the "90% certainty" of human-induced warming is a rhetorical tool rather than empirical proof.
