Researcher Eli Elster, from Universidade from Califórnia, published a scientific review that points to personal experience as a central factor in adhering to extraordinary beliefs. The study, published in the magazine Trends in Cognitive Sciences, argues that theories such as flat earthing, spirits and microchips in vaccines follow the same process as any common conviction.
People interpret everyday experiences as confirmation of pre-existing ideas, even when they contradict consolidated scientific evidence. The work challenges traditional views that attribute these beliefs solely to cognitive biases or social pressure.
- Examples cited include the case of Mad Mike Hughes, who died in 2020 while trying to prove that Terra is flat with a homemade rocket.
- Phenomena such as sleep paralysis also serve as the basis for reports of a supernatural presence.
- Ritual practices with psychoactive substances reinforce beliefs about ancestors and spirits.
Experience acts as a selective filter
The review highlights that not all false ideas become popular. The belief in flat Terra prevails over other equally incorrect theories because the Earth’s surface appears flat to human eyes.
Other geometric shapes, such as a cone or pyramid, do not find support in everyday perception. Esse sensory filter explains why certain extraordinary beliefs spread more than others.
Strange experiences light the flame
Events that are difficult to explain act as an initial trigger. Sleep paralysis, common in different populations, generates a feeling of a threatening presence in the bedroom.
Many people interpret the episode as a visit from supernatural entities. Sem neurological knowledge, experience becomes concrete proof of the existence of these beings.
Auditory hallucinations follow a similar path and fuel convictions about spiritual voices.
Immersive practices reinforce convictions
Rituals and use of hallucinogenic substances create direct sensory evidence. In traditional communities, participants report visual and auditory contact with ancestors during ceremonies.
These experiences strengthen the belief in spiritual continuity after death. The experience generated by the ritual itself makes the idea more tangible than scientific explanations.
Flat Earth resists by visual perception
The flat appearance of the horizon has favored flat-earthing since ancient times. Fotos and videos of the Earth’s curvature are rejected as digital manipulation by many adherents.
The case of Mad Mike Hughes illustrates the strength of this conviction. The North American died in February 2020 during a homemade rocket launch in the desert of Mojave, in the Estados Unidos.
Traditional approach ignores the role of experience
Previous studies prioritized cognitive biases and social influence. The human tendency to attribute intention to random events explains part of beliefs in deities.
The search for community belonging also influences membership in conspiracist groups. However, these explanations leave gaps that the new review aims to fill by including direct experience as a central element.
Practical application of the new perspective
Understanding the mechanism paves the way for more effective strategies against disinformation. Campanhas based only on scientific facts fail when they ignore the experiences that support beliefs.
The approach suggests greater empathy in dialogue with people with different convictions. Eles do not reject evidence out of bad faith, but because they interpret their experiences as contrary evidence.
The review concludes that extraordinary beliefs follow the same cognitive path as any other human conviction, which requires rethinking forms of scientific communication and combating misinformation on sensitive topics such as vaccines and climate change.