Why Do Conspiracy Theorists Never Need To Provide An Explanation?

In this interview, van Prooijen discusses the reasons behind the rise of conspiracy theories and the cognitive biases that contribute to their survival. Psychologists argue that conspiracy theories are rooted in humans’ basic need to explain the world around them, and when something challenges people’s beliefs, they persist. Conspiracy theorists believe strange ideas, but these outlandish beliefs rest on a solid foundation of disbelief. People can be prone to believing in conspiracy theories due to a combination of personality traits and motivations, including relying heavily on intuition, feeling antagonism, and superiority.

Beliefs, even conspiratorial ones, do not occur in a vacuum; they reflect social conditions and fulfill important identity needs, including access to social networks. At the core of every conspiracy theory is the idea that a powerful person or group is secretly hatching a dastardly scheme. Almost anything that makes headlines can be a conspiracy theory.

Conspiracy theories have legitimized violence, impaired public health, and undermined democratic governance. Containing their harms begins with understanding how to identify, debunk, and counter them. Research has shown that most Americans believe in conspiracy theories, from political upheavals to anxieties about sex, technology, and women.

Conspiracy theories can tell us a lot about what’s going on in our lives, from political upheavals to anxieties about sex, technology, and women. It is essential to recognize and debunk conspiracy theories to protect ourselves and others from their harmful effects.