Which Conspiracy Theory Has A Good Probability Of Being Accurate?

Conspiracy theories have been a significant part of American society for centuries, with many theories claiming to be true or false. For instance, the 1979 nuclear test between Israel and South Africa may have been covered up by the United States for political reasons. The current U.S. president, Donald Trump, has been known as the “conspiracy candidate” during the 2016 election, and his widespread belief in conspiracy theories is cause for concern.

The spread of conspiracy theories is accelerated by social media, encouraged by former President Trump, and weaponized in unprecedented ways. Karen Douglas, PhD, a professor of social psychology at the University of Kent, explains that research links support in such theories to various bizarre phenomena, such as alien rulers, shark attacks, and multi-billion-dollar hoaxes.

Despite their prevalence in social and political discourse, a coordinated research agenda to understand their causes and consequences has only developed in the last decade. Conspiracy theories have the potential to undermine governments, promote racism, ignite extremism, and threaten public health efforts. A study by Dr. David Robert Grimes suggests that large groups of people sharing in a conspiracy will quickly give themselves away.

Conspiration theories have been around for ages, but they are often laughed about and pushed to the side. Right-wing extremist groups have played a major role in spreading hatred towards Jews and Muslims, as well as anti-elite, racist, and anti-racist groups. Containing their harms begins with understanding the psychological factors associated with their spread.