Ákos Szegőfi, PhD
Researcher
phone: +36302887648
e-mail: akos.szegofi@gmail.com
Twitter: @ASzegofi
Biography
PhD (to be completed by the 12th of September, 2025): Department Cognitive Science, Central European University, Thesis: Gaming Epistemic Vigilance
BA (2016 and 2018) & MA (2019): International Relations BA (ELTE University, Budapest), Psychology BA (ELTE University, Budapest) Nationalism Studies (Central European University, Budapest/Vienna). Thesis: Fake news about immigration
Invited researcher at Sciences Po, CEVIPOF, Paris (2022-2024).
Invited lecturer at the University of the Andes, Bogotá.
Projects
Research focus
• misinformation and disinformation
• conspiracy theories
• human information processing
• cognitive ergonomics
Past Projects
Recent Publications
Szegőfi, Á. (2024). A most dangerous tale: the universality, function, and evolution of blood libels. Journal of Cognition and Culture, 24(3-4), 182-206. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685373-12340186
Szegőfi, Á. & Heintz, C. (2022). Institutions of epistemic vigilance. Social Epistemology, 36(5).
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02691728.2022.2109532
Szegofi, A., Kmetty, Z., Krekó, P. (in review). From Ancient Myths to Modern Fears: Blood Libel Conspiracy Narratives in the Hungarian Anti-Vaccination Discourse. Available at SSRN: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5358135
Szegőfi, Á. & Heintz, C. (preprint). Dressing-up disinformation: the contextual presentation of lies. PsyArxiv. https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/gws26
Szegőfi, Á. (2019). From Jack the Ripper to Jamal the Rapist: Disinformation, Blood Libel and the Imagery of the Immigrant Criminal. CEU. (link: http://www.etd.ceu.edu/2019/szegofi_akos.pdf )
Science Communication
Szegőfi, Á. (2024). Beware climate populism. Aeon. https://aeon.co/essays/climate-populism-will-be-the-next-great-conspiracy-complex
Szegőfi, Á. (2025). The Worst Story Ever Told. Open Mind Magazine. https://www.openmindmag.org/articles/the-worst-story-ever-told