Tisseron, Serge <br/><br/>
Conspiracy theory is to denial what lies are to secrecy 

 -  2023.<br/>							 
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<br/><br/> Silence in the family or institution about sexual abuse, incest or paedophilia is related, in particular, to secrecy. In line with his work on this theme, Serge Tisseron studies the role of denial. Secrecy and denial are protective mechanisms for the subject. They frequently go hand in hand with ego-splitting and a mechanism of identification with the aggressor as described by Ferenczi. Individual denial can become collective and become part of a conspiracy theory. Conspiracy theories develop in particular through social networks where the exposed subjects find echo chambers for their fantasies. Favoured by traumatic situations, the subject’s denial is reinforced by the denial of the group to which they belong, their family or social network. Some ways of helping the subject who is caught up in denial to overcome it are discussed in conclusion.