Can I Go Into Trouble For Believing Conspiracies?

A new analysis reveals that belief in conspiracy theories is normal but potentially dangerous. Cognitive biases, social influences, emotional maturity, and family dynamics can contribute to an individual’s belief in conspiracy theories. However, recent psychological research suggests that some of the social consequences of conspiracy theories are harmful.

Conspiration theories can make people from their target communities want to help and support each other, and they can also reveal political upheavals, anxieties about sex, technology, and women. Studies on antisemitic conspiracy theories show they can make groups turn inwards for support and more fearful of others.

CIA veterans explain the dangers that loom when conspiracy theories pose real risks to national security exclusively in The Cipher Brief. Belief in such stories may be linked to intelligence, but research is beginning to show that how people think could be more complex than that.

A new review finds that only some methods to counteract conspiracy beliefs are effective. Karen Douglas, PhD, discusses psychological research on how conspiracy theories start, why they persist, who is most likely to believe them, and whether they pose a risk of violence.

Treat anger correlated positively with conspiracy beliefs and perceiving conspirators to have more evil intentions. In the pre-pandemic era, the question was “How do I know whom to trust when it comes to health and science information?” As the novel coronavirus began to spread, the idea that 5G networks were to blame or Bill Gates or a ring of satanic pedophiles spread.