Extreme Conspiracy Theorists: Are They Crazy?

Conspiracy theories are becoming more visible, with psychological factors and non-partisan/ideological political beliefs contributing to their rise. Studies have found that members of ethnic minority groups facing discrimination by a majority group are relatively susceptible to conspiracies, as feelings of deprivation lead to the spread of these theories. Pizzagate and its progeny QAnon are two conspiracy theories with a growing number of believers worldwide, with QAnon entering mainstream conservative circles.

The era of Donald Trump’s presidency has seen numerous unfounded conspiracy theories enter the mainstream, from anti-vaxxers fueling measles outbreaks to advice on how to avoid rows during the festive season. Conspiracy theories have long been part of American life, but they feel more urgent than ever. The psychology of conspiracy theories, such as Qanon and Pizzagate, is crucial in understanding who is most likely to believe them and whether they are based on evolutionary theories.

Conspiration propagandist groups aim to delegitimize government institutions or officials by stoking fears concerning door-to-door gun use. People can be prone to believing in conspiracy theories due to a combination of personality traits and motivations, including relying strongly on intuition. Extreme left and right individuals are more inclined to believe in conspiracy theories than moderates, and they are more likely to have negative economic experiences. In this scenario, right-wing extremist groups played a major role in spreading hatred towards Jews and Muslims, as well as anti-elite, racist, and anti-Semitic sentiments.