Autonomy-Frustrating Memories Increased COVID Conspiracy Beliefs
TL;DR: A 2025 Journal of Personality study found that reactivating autonomy-frustrating memories made COVID conspiracy claims more believable, enraging, and shareable in two Quebec experiments. Key Findings Subliminal memory cues moved real beliefs: Memory keywords flashed for just 60 ms — too fast for conscious reading — increased bogus-conspiracy endorsement, anger, and willingness to share. …
