Ex-Swimmer Riley Gaines Floats Helen Keller Conspiracy Theory - Us Weekly
usmagazine.com
Riley Gaines' Helen Keller conspiracy theory is a textbook case of motivated reasoning — where prior beliefs drive people to reject well-documented history in favor of doubt.
Motivated ReasoningProportionality BiasConspiracy Theory PsychologyEpistemology
Theory Briefing
- Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines publicly floated a conspiracy theory about famed author and disability rights activist Helen Keller.
- The claim targets one of history's most documented figures, illustrating how motivated reasoning can override overwhelming historical evidence.
- Conspiracy thinking often spreads fastest when it attaches to iconic, seemingly 'too remarkable' figures — a pattern psychologists call proportionality bias.