Oxford University study shows that one in five people believe that Coronavirus is a hoax
AN OXFORD university study has revealed one in five people believe to some extent that coronavirus is a hoax.
The research, led by clinical psychologists, was published today in the journal, Psychological Medicine.
The findings indicated that:
60% of adults believe to some extent that the government is misleading the public about the cause of the virus
40% believe to some extent the spread of the virus is a deliberate attempt by powerful people to gain control
20% believe to some extent that the virus is a hoax
From May 4 to 11, 2,500 adults, representative of the English population for age, gender, region, and income, took part in the Oxford Coronavirus Explanations, Attitudes, and Narratives Survey (OCEANS).
Daniel Freeman, professor of clinical psychology at the university, and consultant clinical psychologist at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Those who believe in conspiracy theories are less likely to follow government guidance, for example, staying home, not meeting with people outside their household, or staying 2m apart from other people when outside.
(More at link):
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/18468851.oxford-university-study-shows-publics-coronavirus-beliefs/
And this is in the UK, probably less tinfoil-inclined that the USA.
Moostache
(10,177 posts)Imbeciles are gonna imbecile.
empedocles
(15,751 posts)RKP5637
(67,112 posts)politics with them before ... and out of the blue they came out with how happy they are with tRump, that he's keeping the socialists out of power and will win the election ... and how well he is handling the coronavirus pandemic. There is absolutely no sense talking to people like this. They are tRump cultists.
DBoon
(23,122 posts)Not sure if hard core Tories are the equivalent to US republicans
LeftishBrit
(41,307 posts)that their taxes could be paying for benefits for the 'undeserving'. But most don't have the teabagger obsession with 'my God and my guns'; and most pay at least lip-service to supporting the NHS.