The psychology of conspiracy theories: Why do people believe them?
Belief in conspiracy theories is a complex phenomenon influenced by various psychological, social, and cognitive factors. Here are some key reasons why people might believe in conspiracy theories: Need for Control and Certainty : Conspiracy theories offer a sense of understanding and control over uncertain or threatening events. They provide a narrative that simplifies complex events and assigns blame to a specific group or entity, offering a false sense of security and predictability. Cognitive Biases : Humans are prone to cognitive biases such as confirmation bias (favoring information that confirms preexisting beliefs), pattern-seeking tendency (seeing meaningful patterns even in random data), and proportionality bias (believing that big events must have big causes). These biases can lead individuals to interpret ambiguous information in a way that supports their preconceived notions. Sense of Belonging : Believing in a conspiracy theory can provide a sense of belonging to a communi...