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.
Media
Areas of Expertise
Biography
Education
La Salle University
BA
Purdue University
MA
Select Media Appearances
Amelia Earhart to Jimmy Hoffa: Five Mysteries That Still Vex Us
USA Today
2026-11-02
Americans "like the question," said Derek Arnold, a professor at Villanova University who teaches a course on conspiracy theories. "The story is art. The science is realism, and a lot of people would rather have the story than the explanation."
This "All-Inclusive" Conspiracy Theory Convention Wants You to "Come Curious but Leave Questioning Everything"
The Philadelphia Inquirer
2026-10-15
To understand more about conspiracy theories and why we're drawn to them, the Inquirer's Stephanie Farr reached out to Derek Arnold, a senior instructor in the communication department at Villanova University... "Conspiracy theories are things we just don't know and can't really prove yet so a lot of that stuff is on faith," Arnold said. "When we find that there is truth or proof they're no longer conspiracy theories; they then become conspiracies."
Philadelphia's Founding Years Were Rife With Conspiracy Fears About "Godless" Freemasons and the Illuminati
The Conversation
2026-04-06
"How conspiracies spread has changed immensely over the history of the United States, as technology and media have evolved. But the nature of conspiracies has not... As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, I have been thinking about the early history of Philadelphia and the controversial people, stories and ideas, including conspiracies, that permeated the city during the second half of the 1700s."
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."
"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.
"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.
Why Princess Diana Conspiracy Theories Refuse to Die
CBS News
2017-08-31
"August 31 is the 20th anniversary of the stunning, tragic death of Princess Diana in Paris, France... As the news quickly circulated, theories about the causes of the crash also spread, with some veering into conspiracy... Twenty years later, these conspiracy theories still persist."
What Reality TV Taught Trump, According to Professors Who Study It
The Chronicle of Higher Education
2017-02-15
Derek Arnold, an instructor at Villanova University who teaches communication, says the president's use of Twitter lets him "simulate reality TV," keeping control of the "script" by bypassing the traditional news media. "Each display is no more than a sentence or two," Mr. Arnold says, "keeping issues small and condensed, showing readers that, just like a reality show, many issues can be summed up in just a few key thoughts."
How to Get People to Evacuate? Try Fear
The New York Times
2016-10-06
Derek Arnold, an instructor at Villanova University who has a background in crisis communication and management, said radio and television stations can notify residents of evacuations, but apps and text messages can also deliver them right to their smartphones.
