Uploaded July 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
What would make anyone think the earth is flat? What is at the core of the conspiracy mindset? ALEX OLSHANSKY, M.A., is a Doctoral Candidate in the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University. Alex examines how people cognitively process science misinformation and conspiracy theories, with a special interest in Flat Earth conspiracies.
MARK from Talk Belief delves into Alex's amazing research, research which took him and his colleagues to Flat Earth conferences and to dedicated Flat Earthers themselves. But what is the psychology behind it all? What makes a Flat Earther tick?
#flatearth #conspiracy #belief
00:00 START
01:54 Alex's background
09:13 The research
14:04 Talking to Flat-Earthers
23:04 Emotional needs
30:01 The conspiracy mindset
36:03 Dealing with conspiracy theorists
LINKS FOR ALEX OLSHANSKY:
SITE: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/faculty/faculty/aolshansky.php
CV: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/faculty/vita/aolshansky-CV.pdf
TWITTER: @alexolshansky
RESEARCH PAPERS:
Landrum, A. R., Olshansky, A., & Richards, O. (2021). Differential susceptibility to misleading flat earth arguments on YouTube. Media Psychology, 24:1, 136-165, doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2019.1669461
Olshansky, A., Peaslee, R., & Landrum, A. R. (2020). Flat Smacked! Converting to Flat Eartherism. Journal of Media and Religion. doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2020.1774257
Landrum, A. R. & Olshansky, A. (2020). Third-person Perceptions and Calls for Censorship of Flat Earth Videos on YouTube. Media & Communication, 8(2), XX-XX. doi.org/10.17645/mac.v8i2.2853
Landrum, A. R., & Olshansky, A. (2019). The Role of Conspiracy Mentality in Denial of Science and Susceptibility to Viral Deception about Science. Politics and the Life Sciences, 38(2), 193-209. doi.org/10.1017/pls.2019.9
SEE ALSO:
Asheley R. Landrum @LandrumAR)
Othello Richards @othellorichards
Texas Tech University: https://www.ttu.edu/
Texas Tech Twitter: @TexasTech
twitter.com/TexasTech
Texas Tech University Campus Tour | ⁴ᴷ⁶⁰ Drone Shot
By Ardran Carr @ArdranCarr##
Additional footage/animation credit:
FLAT EARTH: To The Edge And Back by Logan Paul bit.ly/3iMQcbe
Interviews powered by streamyard.com
© Copyright 2021 by Talk Beliefs (Re-use allowed with permission)
**********
TALK BELIEFS: Exploring - and challenging - what and why we believe.
The Talk Beliefs YouTube Channel has been online since 2015 and has been featured on Reggie Yates' Extreme UK for BBC 3 Television. Would you like to help support Talk Beliefs or perhaps tell your own story in an interview? Channel inquiries & direct messages: unchainedmind1@gmail.com
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Thinking about leaving your religion? Need to talk?
Recovering From Religion - Find a worldwide support group:
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*****
"I love making #talkbeliefs content and appreciate every view, like, and share! Through this channel, people have come to terms with leaving religion, and have taken the first steps to leaving destructive cults. It's my goal to continue to help and educate. Thank you all for your support." ~ Mark :-)
Evolution Soup - The World of Evolution
YouTube: goo.gl/X19xK6
Podcast: evolutionsoup.buzzsprout.com
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Pinterest: pinterest.co.uk/evolutionsoup
**********
DISCLAIMER:
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
#atheism #science #reason #humanism #christianity #evolution #creation #creationism #beliefs #secular #mormon #freethinker #darwin #humanist #cult #cults #atheist #humanist #mormon #religion #bookofmormon #jehovah #harekrishna #scientology #leahremini #scientologyandtheaftermath #secularism #dawkins #beliefs #creationist #paleo #cultsandextremebeliefs #paleoanthrology #exjw #exmormon #exchristian #exscientologist
What would make anyone think the earth is flat? What is at the core of the conspiracy mindset? ALEX OLSHANSKY, M.A., is a Doctoral Candidate in the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University. Alex examines how people cognitively process science misinformation and conspiracy theories, with a special interest in Flat Earth conspiracies.
MARK from Talk Belief delves into Alex's amazing research, research which took him and his colleagues to Flat Earth conferences and to dedicated Flat Earthers themselves. But what is the psychology behind it all? What makes a Flat Earther tick?
#flatearth #conspiracy #belief
00:00 START
01:54 Alex's background
09:13 The research
14:04 Talking to Flat-Earthers
23:04 Emotional needs
30:01 The conspiracy mindset
36:03 Dealing with conspiracy theorists
LINKS FOR ALEX OLSHANSKY:
SITE: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/faculty/faculty/aolshansky.php
CV: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/faculty/vita/aolshansky-CV.pdf
TWITTER: @alexolshansky
RESEARCH PAPERS:
Landrum, A. R., Olshansky, A., & Richards, O. (2021). Differential susceptibility to misleading flat earth arguments on YouTube. Media Psychology, 24:1, 136-165, doi.org/10.1080/15213269.2019.1669461
Olshansky, A., Peaslee, R., & Landrum, A. R. (2020). Flat Smacked! Converting to Flat Eartherism. Journal of Media and Religion. doi.org/10.1080/15348423.2020.1774257
Landrum, A. R. & Olshansky, A. (2020). Third-person Perceptions and Calls for Censorship of Flat Earth Videos on YouTube. Media & Communication, 8(2), XX-XX. doi.org/10.17645/mac.v8i2.2853
Landrum, A. R., & Olshansky, A. (2019). The Role of Conspiracy Mentality in Denial of Science and Susceptibility to Viral Deception about Science. Politics and the Life Sciences, 38(2), 193-209. doi.org/10.1017/pls.2019.9
SEE ALSO:
Asheley R. Landrum @LandrumAR)
Othello Richards @othellorichards
Texas Tech University: https://www.ttu.edu/
Texas Tech Twitter: @TexasTech
twitter.com/TexasTech
Texas Tech University Campus Tour | ⁴ᴷ⁶⁰ Drone Shot
By Ardran Carr @ArdranCarr##
Additional footage/animation credit:
FLAT EARTH: To The Edge And Back by Logan Paul bit.ly/3iMQcbe
Interviews powered by streamyard.com
© Copyright 2021 by Talk Beliefs (Re-use allowed with permission)
**********
TALK BELIEFS: Exploring - and challenging - what and why we believe.
The Talk Beliefs YouTube Channel has been online since 2015 and has been featured on Reggie Yates' Extreme UK for BBC 3 Television. Would you like to help support Talk Beliefs or perhaps tell your own story in an interview? Channel inquiries & direct messages: unchainedmind1@gmail.com
Talk Beliefs - In Association with Evolution Soup (Sister Channel).
Follow @TalkBeliefs on Twitter!
Join the Talk Beliefs Facebook Group bit.ly/2fCRLLF
Follow the Talk Beliefs Facebook Page: fb.me/talkbeliefs
Pinterest: pinterest.co.uk/talkbeliefs
Instagram: instagram.com/talkbeliefs
Tik Tok: @talkbeliefs
Would you like to become a supporter of the Talk Beliefs YouTube channel? Click HERE ow.ly/vn2v30fVYBx
Talk Beliefs Logo Animation by Zaraza Iulian bit.ly/2ytX4Vt
Royalty Free Music via Purple Planet: purple-planet.com
*****
Thinking about leaving your religion? Need to talk?
Recovering From Religion - Find a worldwide support group:
recoveringfromreligion.org
*****
"I love making #talkbeliefs content and appreciate every view, like, and share! Through this channel, people have come to terms with leaving religion, and have taken the first steps to leaving destructive cults. It's my goal to continue to help and educate. Thank you all for your support." ~ Mark :-)
Evolution Soup - The World of Evolution
YouTube: goo.gl/X19xK6
Podcast: evolutionsoup.buzzsprout.com
Instagram: instagram.com/evolution_soup
Pinterest: pinterest.co.uk/evolutionsoup
**********
DISCLAIMER:
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
#atheism #science #reason #humanism #christianity #evolution #creation #creationism #beliefs #secular #mormon #freethinker #darwin #humanist #cult #cults #atheist #humanist #mormon #religion #bookofmormon #jehovah #harekrishna #scientology #leahremini #scientologyandtheaftermath #secularism #dawkins #beliefs #creationist #paleo #cultsandextremebeliefs #paleoanthrology #exjw #exmormon #exchristian #exscientologist
