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What makes conspiracy theorists tick?

A recent study revealed that as many as one third of Americans believe that global warming is a hoax. A gunman stormed a pizza restaurant believing that the establishment was a front for child trafficking, after an online forum convinced him so. Anti-vaxxers and flat earthers have taken the Internet by storm. Trump won the presidency in part by appealing to conspiracy. There is evidence that as many as half of all Americans believe in some kind of conspiracy.

So what is it that makes so many people believe in these theories?

A psycological study by Karen M. Douglas, Robbie M. Sutton, and Aleksandra Cichocka attempts to find their motivations.

The study finds that epistemic motives are common across the board, the desire to find a reason for things for which their is very little information. Conspiracy theorists desire a world which is knowable, free from uncertainty, and without chaos. Under circumstance of incomplete information, theorists fill the void with whatever they see fit. From their perspective, they are privy to inside information.

There are also existential motives, the desire to feel safe because some malevolent force is in control of the situation. The study shows that people turn to conspiracy when they feel anxious and powerless. The theories exist as a sort of excuse to justify their lack autonomy. They believe that they do not succeed because an unreasonably powerful malevolent force is blocking them.

Many conspiracy theorists do so for social benefits, including to maintain or even promote their self or group image. Conspiracy theories are most common amongst those who feel that their group is under some threat from outside influence. This suggests that belief is inherently defensive, created to protect self image so as to avoid humiliation or shame.

Conspiracy theories come from groups and individuals who feel they are already alienated from society, so they create false narratives to justify their situation and explain their reality. This leads to mistrust of social institutions which causes a feedback loop of detachment from opposing groups, further alienating themselves from society.

Source:
[journals.sagepub.com]

Happy_Killbot 7 Sep 14
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4 comments

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An inability to understand physics can be a motive as well. I watched a documentary on flat earthers recently.One guy could not understand why if the earth is a globe spinning at thousands of miles an hour we should not be blown from the surface, so the earth must be flat.

Flat earthers are proof that humans are essentially incapable of critical thought. People do not think rationally, we rationalize after the fact.

@Bushshaker David has just published a new book about his crazy ideas. I hope ypu are not suggesting that there is any truth in his dementwed ramblings.

@Bushshaker A bit like that old chestnut " Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you" 😉

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Sounds like you’ve prettymuch posted the answers… I consider this concise: “Conspiracy theorists desire a world which is knowable, free from uncertainty, and without chaos. Under circumstance[s] of incomplete information, theorists fill the void with whatever they see fit.

We must also keep in mind their paranoias being both primed, and harvested. I likely notice that coming from the regressive, or ‘republian party promoters.’ Though, and sad to say.. there are progressives apparently afflicted with the same paranoia.

Mental Illness permeates humanity 😟

Varn Level 8 Sep 14, 2019
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Our own opinions will always seem to us based on careful, rational thought, while differing opinions will appear to be based on conspiracy theories underlain by fear.

That opens the door to psychoanalyzing the “others” and making harsh judgments and attacks.

Just having a different opinion doesn't automatically meant their will be a conspiracy attributed to it, unless that alternate narrative is coupled with power, that's the key difference.

When an alternate opinion or narrative is used to undermine authority or disrupt unity, it can become very dangerous for both society and those who believe in it. Telling an anti-vaxxer to get vaccinated or a UFO believer not to storm area 51 is an act of kindness, because you are doing what is objectively best for them and for society. Delusion is dangerous.

@Happy_Killbot I agree fully with what you are saying. Let’s extend that to climate change. Telling people that the world will end in twelve years and that people should stop having children—now that is a dangerous delusion. It is an act of kindness to those people to set them straight.

@WilliamFleming yes, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Climate change is real and the ecological disaster and loss of diversity are all but inevitable at this point, but grinding society to a halt is unnecessary.

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It's so much simpler to realize that there are a lot of nasty people willing to spin these conspiracy yarns in order to take advantage of all the stupid people looking for easy answers that appeal to their racism, greed, and general desire to believe they're superior to others.

I always thought, many are unimaginative and/or stupid, and seem to be easily manipulated.

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