Yearsley, J. M. (n.d.). The Conjunction Fallacy. Vanderbilt University. https://my.vanderbilt.edu/jamesyearsley/quantum-cognition/the-conjunction-fallacy/. 

The Conjunction Fallacy: Vanderbilt University

A cognitive bias where people rate a specific outcome as more likely than a broad and general outcome. We assign a higher probability to an event of higher specificity, ignoring classical laws of probability.

Conjunction Fallacy

Conspiracy theories sprout from ignorance and mistrust, preying on the illogical fallacies and fears of those who do not understand something. All kinds exist, but often they involve a distrust in the government and medicine. Conspirational thinking can also be linked to a cognitive bias called the “conjunction fallacy”.

- Conjunction Fallacy

University of Rochester

One popular theory about why anti-vaxxers ignore all the evidence pointing against their views in favor of what little they hold onto is that these people fall victim to a cognitive bias known as the Dunning Kruger effect. Other theories include the “magical thinking” phenomenon, conspiracy theories, and fear of going to the doctor.

- The Dunning-Kruger Effect
- Conspiracy Theories and the Anti-Vaxxer Psychology
- The "Magical Thinking" Phenomenon
- Fear of Going to the Doctor

The Psychology of Anti-Vaxxers

Sarcevic, A. (2020, December 14). The psychology of anti-vaxxers. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/culture-shrink/201809/the-psychology-anti-vaxxers. 

Psychology of Anti-Vaxxers: Psychology Today

A cognitive bias when people overestimate their knowledge in a particular field, underestimating how much they do not know. It can be described as an over-confidence in one’s expertise, or “ignorance of one’s own ignorance”. People who experience this are unaware that they do, making it incredibly dangerous. 

The Dunning Kruger Effect

Conspiracy Theories and the Anti-Vaxxer Psychology

The desire to believe that one’s hopes and dreams can affect outcome reality. For instance, the belief that “if I really hope for it, it’ll happen for me”. Some of this is influenced by a belief in the supernatural, but it can be attributed to clinging to a childish wistfulness, a primitive rationalizing optimism devoid of logic. 

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