Why Do People Believe in Conspiracies?

There is a large number of people (although statistically it is a minority) who have conspiracy-type beliefs. These people interpret different events in a different way than the majority, not accepting the official version and looking for an alternative vision that may be more or less viable.

Some of these theories are viable, while others are bizarre and implausible. Why people believe in conspiracies is something that has been investigated on numerous occasions, finding some factors that may have an effect on the probability of believing in them. In this article we make a brief reference to some of them.

What are conspiracy theories?

To understand why conspiracy theories are believed, we first have to be clear about what a conspiracy theory is. It is defined as any elaborate theory or belief that deals with the association of different people and/or organizations whose link aims to achieve the manipulation of events to achieve their objectives, with their backs to the majority opinion and often being said objective or the means to achieve or hide something that negatively affects the rest of the population, a part of it or even a specific individual.

Generally, these theories are based on the development of a specific interpretation of some phenomenon, going beyond empirically proven and contrasted facts and data. The event in question on which they are based may have already occurred, may occur in the future or may be considered to be occurring now.

It must be taken into account that these theories do not appear out of nowhere: they start from some type of real event that is interpreted in an alternative way. In some cases they resemble delusions characteristic of different mental disorders, their content not being supported by empirical evidence (although some elements are considered proof of the theory), they are not shared by the majority and are usually fixed and impermeable to change, often considering that those who deny them can become part of the conspiracy.

Often, maintaining and believing in these theories can generate alterations and repercussions in the life of the subject and even in that of other people, such as avoiding exposure to certain stimuli even if they may be beneficial (for example, vaccines), being object of ridicule and criticism, making social interaction difficult or even causing the person’s complete isolation (either because the person themselves isolates themselves or due to social rejection). It can also hinder academic or work performance, depending on the case.

Not all conspiracy theories are the same. Some of these theories include fantasy or science fiction elements, while others are relatively plausible and can arise from the interpretation of real events. In fact, although the vast majority tend to be false or a distortion of real facts, some theories initially considered conspiracies or the product of delusions have proven to be real, as happened with Martha Mischel with the Watergate case and the corruption in the time of Nixon, the existence of Jewish Holocaust or the MK Ultra project.

Factors linked to belief in conspiracy theories

While many of these theories are very interesting, As a general rule, they are not believed by the majority of the population. Although some are defended by more or less groups and people, statistically speaking there are few who consider them true, support them and defend them.

It is worth asking what makes these people believe in one or more conspiracy theories, if there are common aspects that facilitate belief in theories that are not widely shared and for which there is often no palpable and irrefutable evidence (which in turn time in many of these theories is considered proof of its concealment). In this sense, different investigations have been carried out in this regard. Some of the factors that have been found linked to this type of beliefs conspiracies are the following.

1. Differences at the perceptual level

Some studies reflect that people who believe in supernatural phenomena and conspiracy theories considered irrational (although we are talking about a non-clinical population, without psychopathology) tend to have certain differences with respect to those who do not in terms of the perception of patterns. This perception is what makes us identify facts and stimuli based on a previously acquired pattern or stimulus, making associations between the two.

In the case of those who believe conspiracy theories, they would tend more easily than the rest of the population to identify illusory patterns, linking elements that are not necessarily linked and considering that they have cause-effect relationships between them. In other words, they have a greater tendency to connect stimuli and elements that are considered as associated even though its appearance is random. This has been observed in research in which the perception of patterns when presenting visual stimuli has been worked on, tending to make more recognition of supposed patterns.

2. Need for control/Intolerance of uncertainty

Some of the people who decide to believe in these types of theories reflect a strong need for control or to manage uncertainty in the face of events for those who cannot find an explanation or the existing explanation does not convince them. Human beings tend to seek to provide a structure to the world and the events that occur in it, and conspiracy theories could meet this need in the absence of an explanation that more closely matches the schemes themselves.

Likewise, people who have little sense of control over what they experience are usually more likely to believe that it is another person who directs the situations.

3. Life events and learning

Another factor to take into account is the existence of high levels of stress, the specific events that we have experienced in our personal history and the learning that we have learned throughout our lives. For example, it is easier to believe in a conspiracy on the part of the government if we believe that it has defrauded, deceived, or used us on some occasion. It has been observed that Situations of intense and continuous stress also facilitate belief in conspiracy theories.

Also education and the type of beliefs to which we have been exposed in childhood. For example, if we do not believe in aliens it will be difficult to believe that a species from outer space is invading us, or if someone has grown up with people who defended a certain theory it will be easier (although it is not decisive) for said belief to be considered true.

4. Need for distinction

Another element that can motivate belief in this type of theory is, as reflected in different studies and research carried out by the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, the need for distinction or to feel unique. It’s important to put attention on This need does not have to be something conscious.

The investigations in this regard were carried out by carrying out several scales that measured the importance of being unique and different and the belief in conspiracies and other people’s control over the behavior and events we experience. The subjects were then exposed to a list of different conspiracy theories to indicate whether they believed any of them to be true. In another experiment, a theory of this type was even created to observe whether or not it was believed and whether this was linked to the need for differentiation or not. Even after stating this fact.

The results reflected indicated that in a large percentage of cases people who believe in conspiracies or had a mentality that facilitated their belief They had a higher level of need for distinctiveness and uniqueness. The data obtained by these studies indicate that the need to feel different and unique has an existing and considered significant effect on belief in conspiracy theories, although it is an effect that occurs at a modest level that does not govern or determine belief. per se.

Likewise, it was observed that the popularity of the theory itself did not affect the majority of participants with the exception of those who subscribed to a large number of them (reducing their level of belief the more popular it was). In the latter cases there would be an increased need for attention and to feel different.