What Do Those Who Create Conspiracy Theories Go By?

The notion that Russian nationals meddled in the 2016 presidential election has been supported by numerous guilty pleas, evidence-based indictments, and U.S. intelligence agency investigations. New research by Josh Hart, associate professor of psychology, suggests that people with certain personality traits and cognitive styles are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. At the core of every conspiracy theory is the idea that a powerful person or group of people is secretly hatching a dastardly scheme. People may seek simplistic answers when confronted by complex issues, such as the unexplained suicide of Jeffrey Epstein.

People can be prone to believe in conspiracy theories due to a combination of personality traits and motivations, including relying strongly on their intuition and feeling a sense of antagonism and superiority. A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that asserts the existence of a conspiracy by powerful and sinister groups, often political.

The survivability of conspiracy theories may be aided by psychological biases and distrust of official sources. Conspiracy theories abound, and it is essential to understand what should you believe and how to tell if you are a conspiracy theorist. Psychological approaches explain belief in conspiracy theories, and it is crucial to recognize and debunk them to protect our safety and democracy.