The Psychology of AIDS Denialism

Abstract

More than 34 million people in the world are living with HIV/AIDS. Each year there are nearly three million new HIV infections and nearly two million AIDS-related deaths. In the face of these staggering statistics, there is a vocal group of individuals who deny reality and claim that HIV is harmless or may not even exist at all. Mirroring the AIDS pandemic itself, AIDS denialism is a threat to public health. AIDS denialism propagates the views of a few rogue scientists through press releases, social media, and a significant presence on the Internet. AIDS Denialists aim to undermine HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. Most tragic has been the adoption of AIDS Denialist views by public officials, perhaps none more infamous than former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki. This article examines the psychology of AIDS denialism, focusing on its emergence from the earliest days of AIDS and its grounding in conspiracy thinking and medical mistrust. The article also describes the tactics and rhetoric of AIDS denialism and those who are most vulnerable to AIDS Denialist claims. Recommendations are offered for countering AIDS denialism by exposing its fake experts and baseless claims.