Why People Create Conspiracies?

Researchers suggest that conspiracy theories are driven by three main factors: the desire for understanding and certainty, the desire for control, and a combination of personality traits and motivations. People are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories when they feel ostracized or lack a sense of belonging. Conspiracy theories are often explanatory beliefs about a group of actors conspiring secretly to achieve malevolent goals.

People can be prone to believing in conspiracy theories due to a combination of personality traits and motivations, including relying strongly on their intuition. The sheer outlandishness of conspiracy theories can be breathtaking, such as a Satanist pedophile ring run by political elites or American voting machines rigged. A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that asserts the existence of a conspiracy by powerful and sinister groups, often political.

Conspiration theories are defined as theories that reject the standard explanation for an event and instead credit a covert group or organization with carrying out the conspiracy. Conspiracy beliefs are a by-product of a suite of psychological mechanisms, such as pattern recognition, agency detection, threat management, and alliance detection. Bots, trolls, social media, and message boards can spread misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda.

In conclusion, conspiracy theories are driven by a combination of personality traits, motivations, and psychological mechanisms. Understanding the psychology behind conspiracy theories can help us better understand why people believe in them and how to counter them.