Contrary to the belief that many people who subscribe to conspiracy theories do so out of ignorance, a recent evaluation provides additional evidence that there are more complex reasons at play.
Psychologist Shauna Bowes from Emory University in the United States states that not all conspiracy theorists are less knowledgeable or think simply, as most people perceive. The reality is that many individuals believe in conspiracy theories because they fulfill a need for reduced motivation and help them make sense of feelings of suffering and weakness.
Why do we sometimes think in conspiracy theory terms? (Illustration: Getty).
Although we all have moments when we think in terms of conspiracy theories, believing in them too much can be dangerous. Ms. Bowes and her colleagues analyzed 170 studies to explore the motivations behind people’s beliefs.
While many factors are at play, individuals seem to be driven by a need to feel safe, understand their environment, and increasingly desire social safety when those two needs are unmet.
This is not a positive situation, as it makes the surrounding world feel more dangerous and the future more uncertain. “Our findings indicate that motivation is very important and may even be a decisive factor in the formation of conspiracy ideas,” the research team explains.
They found that social threats, or fears of the surrounding society, are much more closely related to conspiracy thinking than other threats, which is also strongly linked to trust. Trust has long been considered a key factor in our belief in a phenomenon called cultural cognition.
No matter how educated we are, we are still prone to believe information from those we consider part of our cultural group.
Psychologist Bowes and her colleagues also discovered that personality traits such as lower analytical thinking ability and higher anxiety levels have surprisingly low correlation with conspiracy thinking. The research team suggests that this may be due to not considering the time frame long enough or how different traits interact with one another.
Nevertheless, individual and collective narcissism also increases the likelihood of conspiracy thinking, as well as the need to feel unique and different.
Individuals who perceive social threats are more likely to believe in event-based conspiracy theories rather than abstract ones, which are preferred by narcissistic and paranoid individuals.
For example, they may be more inclined to believe in the conspiracy theory that the U.S. government planned the 9/11 terrorist attacks rather than another theory suggesting the government is scheming to consolidate power through adverse measures.
The role of safety and security also explains why more people tend to believe in conspiracy theories during crises, such as in the recent pandemic when many faced financial hardship and health uncertainties.
Understanding these factors is essential to help individuals avoid falling into the trap of such thinking and mitigate the harmful actions they may take.
