COVID-19, cognitive dissonance and conspiracy theories

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to point to the cognitive dissonance caused in people by different information about the new COVID-19 disease. The information originates from different professional and laymen sources and is often inconsistent. The fact that science itself has not entirely clarified the origin of the virus causing COVID-19, the symptoms, treatment protocols and consequences of disease, complicates the situation. Cognitive dissonance causes frustration, fear and stress, which, if prolonged, lead to health disorders. In search of a way out of cognitive ambiguity, many accept conspiracy theories as a solution to their own tensions.Cilj rada je da se ukaže na kognitivnu disonancu koju kod ljudi izazivaju različite informacije o novoj bolesti COVID-19. Informacije potiču iz različitih stručnih i laičkih izvora i često su međusobno neusklađene. Situaciju komplikuje činjenica da ni nauka nije sasvim razjasnila poreklo virusa koji izaziva COVID-19, simptome, protokole lečenja i posledice bolesti. Kognitivna disonanca izaziva frustraciju, strah i stres, koji, ako traju duže vreme, vode do poremećaja zdravlja. Tražeći izlaz iz kognitivne nejasnoće, mnogi prihvataju teorije zavere kao rešenje sopstvene napetosti.