The ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders (CCD) Belief Formation Program, based at the Department of Cognitive Science, Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia), and the Centre for Agency, Value and Ethics (CAVE), based within the Philosophy Department, Macquarie University, are hosting a two-day interdisciplinary workshop, entitled “Conspiracy theories, delusions and other ‘troublesome’ beliefs” on 10 and 11 August 2017. Our goal is to bring together researchers from different disciplines to consider a range of ‘sub-clinical’ but still problematic beliefs, the psychological processes which underlie those beliefs, and any similarities and dissimilarities with delusional thinking processes. These include conspiracy theorizing, anti-vaccination sentiments, extreme or radical political beliefs, climate change denial, belief in an intrinsically just world (and associated victim-blaming), and so on. Speakers include: cognitive scientists working on misinformation, delusions, and motivated beliefs; social psychologists working on conspiracy theories and related factors; philosophers working on evidence and social trust; and health informatics researchers interested in the effects of anti-vaccine beliefs.

Confirmed Speakers

• Stephan Lewandowsky, Bristol University, UK; The University of Western Australia
• Karen Douglas, University of Kent, UK
• Neil Levy, Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, Oxford University, UK; Macquarie University
• Mark Alfano, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands; Australian Catholic University
• Robert Brotherton, Barnard College, Columbia, USA; Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
• Jolanda Jetten, The University of Queensland
• Robyn Langdon, Macquarie University
• Adam Dunn, Macquarie University
• Peter Clutton, Macquarie University
• Mariia Kaliuzhna, Macquarie University
• Ben Tappin, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK

End-of-day Forum Leaders

• Day 1 Forum: “What counts as delusional belief” introduced by Max Coltheart and Colin Klein (Macquarie University)
• Day 2 Forum: “Social networks, misinformation and distrust” introduced by Adam Dunn and Mark Alfano

Location

Level 1 Lecture Theatre, Australian Hearing Hub, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia

Program

• Conspiracy Theories Workshop Program (pdf)

Registration

• Registration Form

Enquiries

• robin.blumfield@mq.edu.au

Useful Links

• Macquarie University
• Accommodation Options

MORE INFORMATION