Which Conspiracy Theory, In Your Opinion, Is True?

The list of 11 unbelievable conspiracy theories that are actually true includes the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, MKUltra, the CIA Mind-Control Project, the 1990 Testimony of Nayirah, Operation Snow White, the Church of Scientology Versus The U.S. Government, CIA Assassinations, and The Business Plot. These theories are often exaggerated, reversed, or made very specific, which can threaten our safety and democracy.

Conspiracy theories are not reserved for angry Republicans, as they can legitimize violence, impaired public health, and undermine democratic governance. To understand why people are drawn to the notion of shadowy forces controlling political events, psychological research is needed. Karen Douglas, PhD, of the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, discusses psychological research on how conspiracy theories start, why they persist, who is most likely to believe them, and whether they pose real risks to national security.

The 1980s theory that there were moves afoot to institute a “shadowy” government was also discussed. Most Americans believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone in assassinating John F. Kennedy in 1963. This past year, COVID-19 and the U.S. elections have provided fertile ground for conspiracy theories, with sometimes disastrous consequences.

Despite being criticized in popular culture, research has shown that most Americans believe in conspiracy theories of some sort. Asbjørn Dyrendal, a professor in NTNU’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, specializes in psychological research on how conspiracy theories start, persist, who is most likely to believe them, and whether they pose real risks to national security.