What Does Conspiracy Theorists’ Use Of The Abbreviation Cf Stand For?

Conspiracy theories are explanations that describe the secret and wicked plans and actions of a powerful group of conspirators as the most important cause of an event or phenomenon. The term “conspiracy theory” and “conspiracy theorist” were created by the Central Intelligence Agency following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy as a way of discrediting these theories. There are many conspiracy theories out there, some of which are bizarre, such as the idea that Elvis faked his own death or that Britain’s royal family are shape-shifting alien lizards.

Conspiration theories, like rumors and extra-factual information (EFI), are adopted and treated as possible or actual truth because they can serve as a kind of improvised explanation. For example, the theory that the Moon landings were faked has prompted detailed explanations rebutting the claims, externally.

Belief in conspiracy theories is influenced by various psychological, political, and social factors. Extreme left and right individuals are more inclined to believe in conspiracy theories than moderates, and they are more likely to have negative economic consequences. Conspiracy beliefs are positively correlated with vigilance and unrelated to avoidance, with no moderator or mediator effects.

The Minimalist Account of conspiracy theories, as argued by Napolitano, focuses on the general propensity to suspect that conspiracies are at play, uncontaminated. This emerging research domain has developed over the past decade and has been used to explore the various aspects of conspiracy beliefs.