Derek Arnold

Senior Instructor, Communication | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Villanova University

  • Villanova PA

Derek Arnold, MA, researches business and political scandals, as well as the mitigating effects of crisis management and communication.

Contact

Villanova University

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Media

Areas of Expertise

Conspiracy Theory
Political Communication
Business & Political Scandal
Crisis Management & Communication
Communication

Biography

The highly charged areas of business and political scandal—how they evolve, how they are covered by the news media and how their destructive effects can be mitigated through crisis management and communication—are Derek Arnold's specialty. He is also a good source for discussions on conspiracy theories, particularly how they are formulated and how to defend against them.

Education

Purdue University

MA

La Salle University

BA

Select Media Appearances

To Hide Top-Secret Weapons, the Pentagon Planted Myths About UFOs at Area 51—Then Things Spun Out of Control

Popular Mechanics  

2025-06-27

The U.S. government perpetuated myths about UFOs at Area 51, according to an exposé from The Wall Street Journal... So, why did these extraterrestrial myths spread so effectively among pedestrians and Air Force personnel? Perhaps it was human connection, explains Derek Arnold, an expert on conspiracy theory rhetoric and a professor at Villanova University. "We love a good story, and stories are such a big part of how conspiracy theories get transmitted."

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"We Sometimes Just Want to Believe": The Theory Behind Conspiracy Theories

KYW Newsradio  

2023-10-12

Derek Arnold discusses the appeal behind conspiracies, how people get so deeply engaged that these theories become part of their identities and how to try to counter them if you know someone who supports a conspiracy theory.

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"Comes With the Job": Why Political Corruption Is a Rite of Passage in New Jersey

The Guardian  

2023-10-08

New Jersey senator Bob Menendez was federally indicted for bribery last month by the U.S. attorney's office, southern district of New York... Villanova University's Derek Arnold said Menendez has double-downed on his actions, pointing to them as activities he does to benefit his constituents. In the state's political culture, the line is blurred between illegal corruption, private gains in exchange for specific benefits, and legal corruption, political gains in exchange for specific benefits.

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