Why Are Conspiracies So Appealing To Us?

Conspiracy theories are a common phenomenon that stem from personality traits and motivations, such as intuition and a sense of superiority. Researchers have identified three main reasons for believing in conspiracy theories: the desire for understanding and certainty, the belief in antagonism and superiority, and the desire for certainty. Some conspiracy theories, like Earth’s flatness or the moon landing being faked by the government, are harmless, while others are more complex and irrational.

Belief in irrational conspiracy theories is a mainstream phenomenon, with cognitive biases playing a role. Conspiracy theories have been present for at least the past 100 years, and their psychological and non-partisan/ideological political aspects contribute to their prevalence. The approach to patients with conspiracy beliefs should be similar to dealing with psychotic disorders.

Conspirational beliefs can impact public and personal health, democratic citizenship, and even political issues. In the pre-pandemic era, right-wing extremist groups spread hatred towards Jews, Muslims, anti-elite, racist, and anti-Semitic groups. It is important to recognize that conspiracy theories are not unhinged beliefs held by a small number of paranoid idiots, but rather a byproduct of psychological mechanisms such as pattern recognition, agency detection, threat management, and alliance detection.

In conclusion, conspiracy theories are a widespread phenomenon that can be countered through analytic thinking and countering the belief in irrational conspiracy theories.