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Name: Shubham Mohanty

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LINK: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vqF5UHLW86V17k9DhrQZl5NvML73zdMcBtukIuNGkys/edit?usp=sharing

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Screenshot 2025-03-29 at 21-58-26 Summary for Assignment 2 - Google Docs

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Ancient Aliens TV Show (History Channel)

# Definition

Some pseudoscientific ideas deliberately create a sense of mystery to make their claims appear more intriguing or profound.

# Connection

The show Ancient Aliens often presents hypotheses with no scientific backing, deliberately leaving questions unanswered to create a sense of awe and wonder. This tactic keeps viewers engaged, but it lacks demonstrable validity and fails to follow the scientific method. Instead of critically evaluating evidence, it often sensationalizes vague connections between historical sites and extraterrestrial involvement. This approach creates a distorted view of truth, leading people to accept speculative ideas without demanding proof.

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Homeopathy Website

# Definition

Pseudoscience often fails to progress or improve over time, sticking to outdated or debunked concepts.

# Connection

Homeopathy remains largely unchanged since its creation in the late 1700s. Despite countless studies debunking its effectiveness, proponents still claim that extreme dilutions can cure diseases. Unlike real science, which evolves through critical thinking and ongoing research, homeopathy remains stuck in the past. This lack of progress is a clear barrier to critical thinking, as believers are reluctant to question long-standing practices despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

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Post 5: Convinces by Faith and Belief (in spite of evidence)

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Post 5: Convinces by Faith and Belief (in spite of evidence)

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Faith Healing Testimonial Video - https://youtu.be/3D4hJtC18BA?si=Syv5AoB4Zm9fQ4-o

# Definition

Some pseudoscientific claims persist because people continue to believe them despite contradictory evidence.

# Connection

Faith healing often relies on anecdotes of miraculous recoveries while ignoring failures. Despite numerous studies debunking its effectiveness, believers remain convinced because of confirmation bias and emotional connection. Critical evaluation of evidence shows that perceived improvements are often due to the placebo effect or natural recovery rather than divine intervention.

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"The Lord Told Me, 'Cast it Out!'" - Terminal Cancer Healing

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Post 6: Confusion of Correlation with Causation

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Post 6: Confusion of Correlation with Causation

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Anti-Vaccine Movement claiming autism link - https://www.npr.org/2025/02/13/1231104444/the-anti-vaccine-movement

# Definition

This red flag occurs when people mistakenly believe that just because two events occur together, one caused the other.

# Connection

The belief that vaccines cause autism is rooted in confusing correlation with causation. Early studies making this claim were debunked and retracted, but the myth persists due to group-think among anti-vaccine communities. Proper use of the scientific method shows no credible link between vaccines and autism.

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Flat Earth Society Website - https://theflatearthsociety.org/home/index.php

# Definition

People often support pseudoscientific ideas because they align with their ideological or personal beliefs.

# Connection

Flat Earth theories persist because they align with certain ideological worldviews, despite overwhelming scientific evidence proving Earth’s round shape. This represents a distorted view of truth, where personal belief overrides empirical evidence. Applying skepticism and using reputable sources can help counter these misconceptions.

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Reiki Healing Website - https://www.reiki.org/

# Definition

Some pseudoscientific claims involve vague and unmeasurable forms of energy that supposedly affect health and well-being.

# Connection

Reiki practitioners claim to manipulate “universal life energy” to heal the body. However, no credible scientific studies validate this supposed energy or its effects. Critical thinking would involve asking for demonstrable validity—can this energy be measured or tested? The answer is consistently no, making the practice scientifically unsupported.

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Vibrational Healing Through the Chakras: With Light, Color, Sound, Crystals & Aromatherapy (BOOK) - Joy Gardner

# Definition

Proof by verbosity is when something sounds credible because it’s loaded with complex language or a bunch of loosely connected terms — even if none of it actually makes scientific sense.

# Connection

Just the title of this book tries to sell the idea that you can heal your body using a mix of vague, sciencey-sounding ideas like “vibrational energy,” “chakras,” “light frequencies,” “crystal resonance,” and “aromatherapy.” It’s packed with big concepts that aren’t defined, measurable, or supported by any real scientific method. The goal is to sound deep and impressive rather than actually present evidence. There’s no clear explanation of how this healing works, no peer-reviewed research, and no demonstrable validity — just a flood of words that feel true if you’re not questioning them. This is why critical thinking is so important. Instead of being impressed by buzzwords, we need to define the claim, evaluate the source, and ask if there’s actual evidence behind what’s being said. Spoiler: there usually isn’t.

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The Moon Landing - World's Greatest Hoax? | Free Documentary History - https://youtu.be/DxW__ZtZApo?si=GFyIF8vNB2sto-S1

# Definition

A red herring diverts attention from the real issue by focusing on irrelevant details.

# Connection

Instead of addressing actual evidence from NASA and other scientific organizations, conspiracy theorists focus on unrelated “inconsistencies” like shadows or flag movement. This tactic avoids confronting the actual scientific evidence, misleading viewers through distraction rather than proof.

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BuzzFeed Unsolved: The Shadowy Spirits of Rolling Hills Hospital (S4 E2)

# Definition

Perception and observation refers to how easily our senses can be fooled — especially in creepy or unfamiliar environments where we’re already expecting something paranormal.

# Connection

In this episode, Ryan and Shane explore Rolling Hills Hospital — a place said to be haunted by shadow figures and screaming ghosts. The building itself is old, drafty, and full of eerie sounds. The show plays up how creepy it is, and the two constantly react to every echo, breeze, or weird noise. There’s even talk of a 7-foot apparition and crawling shadow people. But when you strip away the fear, a lot of these experiences can be explained by environmental factors — wind, bad lighting, and suggestive storytelling. This is a great example of how our perception and observation can lead us to believe something is paranormal, even when there's no actual evidence. It's also why we need critical thinking — especially when things feel scary — because just “seeing something” isn’t proof. Our brains are really good at filling in the blanks when we’re creeped out.

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The Shadowy Spirits of Rolling Hills Asylum

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Simple Explanation for Crop Circles

# Definition

People are more likely to believe simple explanations rather than complex scientific reasoning.

# Connection

Instead of attributing crop circles to elaborate hoaxes or natural phenomena, many choose the simpler explanation: aliens. This reflects a lack of practice in critical thinking, as it’s easier to accept a straightforward but unsupported answer than to dive into a complex analysis.

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Post 13: Agenticity (The Annabelle Doll)

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Post 13: Agenticity (The Annabelle Doll)

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The Demonic Curse of Annabelle the Doll

# Definition

Agenticity is the tendency to believe that unseen forces, spirits, or intentions are behind random or unexplained events. It’s when we assume there's a mind or purpose behind something that likely has a natural explanation.

# Connection

The legend of Annabelle is one of the most famous haunted doll stories, with people believing the doll is possessed by a spirit that can harm or curse others. These beliefs are driven by agenticity — people assume that bad luck or strange occurrences must be caused by the doll, as if it has a will or personality. In reality, there’s no verifiable evidence that the doll is doing anything. But when someone gets into a car crash or feels sick after visiting it, they connect the dots emotionally. This is where skepticism is essential. Without evaluating evidence, these stories become anecdotes that feel real, even if they’re just coincidences. Using the full critical thinking process, we’d need to define the claim, recognize bias, and ask for demonstrable validity—none of which exist in Annabelle’s case. But it still makes for a great horror story.

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When evaluating pseudoscientific claims and reasons for belief, it’s essential to apply critical thinking and use the scientific method to separate fact from fiction. Many of these beliefs thrive on emotional connections or distorted truths, which makes it crucial to recognize bias and evaluate evidence properly.