Conspiracy Theories: Why do We Believe in Conspiracy Theories?

Conspiracy theories are quite common, and they appear to exist in both contemporary and traditional communities. There has yet to be discovered a civilization that does not believe in conspiracies.

More than one-third of Americans believe global warming is a hoax. Around 37% of Americans believe the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is intentionally preventing the public from accessing natural cancer remedies.

What They Are and What They Aren't

The definition of a conspiracy theory has been agreed upon by social scientists. A look at the fundamental components of a conspiracy theory can help explain why the rise of social media, increasing news consumption, and the misunderstanding surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak provided the ideal atmosphere for theories to arise.

The concept of powerful groups of individuals carrying out covert operations that are concealed from public observation is central to conspiracy theories. This implies that proving them wrong would be incredibly tough.

A conspiracy theorist is inclined to assume that everyone who tries to disprove their idea is complicit in it and is a member of the conspiracy. Conspiracy theories were broken down into five basic aspects in a study of their psychology:

• An idea about how individuals and events are related in some way or create a pattern.
• In their acts, the conspirators are deliberate.
• A collection of dishonest, evil actors is working together to achieve a common objective (lone wolf explanations do not meet the definition of a conspiracy theory)
• The conspirators are threatening to hurt others.
• The conspirators operate in secret, which explains why there is typically little proof and makes them difficult to refute.

The Spread of Conspiracy Theories:

There is no proof that there are more conspiracy theories today than there were in previous eras. There are just far more effective and efficient ways of magnifying any particular conspiracy. Any concept, no matter how ridiculous, may now spread at the speed of Wi-Fi.

Social media and other news sources may propagate any opinion on the internet. Customers are fed more and more of a concept depending on their proven interest in a belief system since social media platforms, in particular, are built to enhance user engagement. Soon, two or more parallel streams of information and radically different interpretations of events emerge.

According to one poll, over 70% of individuals throughout the world have increased their news intake in order to understand more about the coronavirus. Everyone was understandably preoccupied with determining how the illness would affect their health, their families, and their enterprises.

According to studies, the majority of information concerning the pandemic was accurate, but incorrect information appeared to be disseminated and spread more widely.

As we all know, there are currently various pandemic-related conspiracy theories. According to a poll conducted in March 2020, one out of every four Americans believes the coronavirus was created on purpose by scientists.

There is a sizable group of people that believe the coronavirus does not exist and that the entire epidemic is a hoax. Another theory circulated on social media was that testing itself infected individuals, and people were encouraged to avoid testing.

Who Are the People Most Likely to Believe in Conspiracy Theories?

Those who feel excluded or disconnected from society are more inclined to believe in conspiracies. Those who believe their standing is under jeopardy or who have a reduced income are likewise prone to conspiracies.

Let's look at some historical examples of well-known conspiracy theories:

The Salem Witch Trials held in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts:

The Salem Witch Trials are a great illustration of conspiracy theories' potency and the potential for deadly repercussions. In 1692, a group of young women in Salem, Massachusetts, felt they were demon-possessed and accused numerous other women in the vicinity of witchcraft.

During this time, individuals began to believe that their neighbours were witches. The trials lasted nearly a year, so this wasn't a minor mistake of judgment. These alleged witches were put on trial in front of a judge and jury. Thirty of them were executed by hanging.

This is a conspiracy theory because a group of people came to believe that another, more powerful group was collaborating with malevolent motives to harm them.

Some conspiracy ideas have been shown to be accurate, which is interesting. For example:

 The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment:

Began as a conspiracy idea, without the agreement of the Black males involved, research was initiated in 1932 with the purpose of investigating the long-term consequences of syphilis. The males recruited at the Tuskegee Institute had syphilis and were assured they were being treated by the doctors involved, but they were not.

The guys endured permanent repercussions as a result of allowing the sickness to consume their bodies. This occurred during the time when penicillin, a syphilis therapy, was available.

It wasn't until 1972 that it was established that this had occurred. It was simply a common conspiracy idea before then.

Why Do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?

Conspiracy theories make use of some of the most fundamental aspects of human nature. The human mind is always looking for patterns and making meaning of its surroundings. Humans are also always on the lookout for their tribe or individuals with whom they have a bond. Conspiracy theories make use of these human characteristics and provide us with explanations that make us feel safer.

Help to Makes Sense of the world:

When we look at clouds, our minds are continually seeking patterns, which is why we may picture a face. In the same way, we search for and notice patterns in circumstances.

We look for reasons to explain occurrences and a collection of actions. It's a technique of making sense of a tumultuous world filled with stimuli and occurrences. Conspiracy theories are more frequent when there is little or conflicting knowledge about a topic, which makes sense.

When an incident has a large influence and significance in many people's lives, yet the public is given relatively boring or inadequate answers, conspiracies are more likely to emerge. Conspiracies, according to scientists, are a mechanism for people to achieve "cognitive closure." Conspiracies are regarded to have a strong attraction in this area.

They Provide Control in the Face of Uncontrollable Events

People can feel comfortable and have some autonomy or influence over random events by believing in conspiracy theories.

It's a coping method for individuals who feel helpless in the face of destiny. When people are frightened and helpless, they are more vulnerable to them. Those who believe they are unable to foresee the result of a scenario are more prone to go to others for validation.

Belonging Feelings:

A conspiracy theory appears to satisfy the human yearning to belong. The theories are discussed among a group of people who have become nearly family. The bond's foundation is the theory.

It also permits a person's self-image to be validated. The idea that one's group and accompanying belief system is correct while others are incorrect is ingrained in a conspiracy.

The presumption is that the coalition is moral and good and that those outside the group are sabotaging it. Studies show that belief in conspiracies is linked to a narcissistic or inflated sense of self.

Conspiracy theories have been questioned by evolutionary psychologists as an over-zealous application of a skill that presumably developed to govern and improve humans' social lives. It's all too easy to rush to assumptions about other people's motives, intentions, and cognitive processes.

This is corroborated by the intriguing fact that the ability to interpret other people's emotions just via their eyes properly predicts conspiracy theory belief.

Written By- Tanya C