Why Are There Conspiracy Theorists?

Conspiracy theories are a persistent phenomenon that have been around for at least the past 100 years, according to psychologists. They are driven by three main factors: the desire for understanding and certainty, the desire for control, and the attraction of a sense of conspiracy. People can be prone to believe in conspiracy theories due to a combination of personality traits and motivations, including relying on intuition and feeling a sense of danger.

Psychologists’ research on conspiracy theories offers insight into how they start, why they persist, who is most likely to believe them, and whether they are based on scientific evidence. Misinformation has led to the mob that stormed the Capitol, highlighting the disastrous effects of such theories. Psychologists’ research also suggests that the approach to patients with conspiracy beliefs should be similar to dealing with psychotic disorders.

Conspiration theories are baseless and threaten our safety and democracy. People are prone to such thinking due to specific emotions. The question of who to trust when it comes to health and science information has been a common concern before the pandemic. Conspiracy theory experts have found that not everyone is vulnerable to conspiratorial thinking, and even when there is substantial evidence to the contrary, the allure of conspiracy theories may be too powerful for some to resist.