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The Psychology Behind Conspiracy Theories

Maya Dhillon
Image shows a sticker that reads '9/11 was an inside job' [conspiracy theories]

Maya Dhillon

What’s your favourite conspiracy theory? Mine has to be that Lea Michele can’t read — she was fed all of her lines during her six seasons of Glee and never read a single script.

It started as a joke on a podcast and Michele herself has even leaned into the gag. But do I actually believe that Lea Michele can’t read? Not for a second.

Although this conspiracy theory is one of the more light-hearted ones, it is an entrance point into the murky waters of tin foil hats, microchipped vaccines, moon landing naysayers. The majority of us may laugh at those who believe that COVID-19 was transmitted by 5G towers or that 9/11 was an inside job, but not all.

Why do so many people believe in these seemingly far-fetched ideas? What is it that drives people to believe in conspiracy theories, you might wonder.

What Is A Conspiracy Theory?

In essence, conspiracy theories are explanations of events or situations that imply the existence of an all-powerful group ‘at the core of it all.’

Though there are usually more likely explanations, conspiracy theories are built to defy falsification, meaning that it is difficult to convince a believer that the theory is wrong. 

The European Commission outlined six qualities that conspiracy theories share. They included:

Seeing it in black and white makes it seem impossible that anyone could buy into a conspiracy theory. With the mechanics laid bare, the average person might feel that there is no reason to fall for one, given the concoction is always the same.

So why do people fall for conspiracy theories?

Proportionality Bias 

Cognitive bias is a term that gets thrown around a lot in modern-day discourse without much consideration of what it actually means. Put simply, cognitive bias is a thought process caused by the brain’s disposition to simplify information processing. To understand information, the brain will process the data it receives through filters of personal preferences. 

Although this is an effective device in creating mental shortcuts, it can also lead to misinterpretations and errors in judgements. 

“The crux of it is that big events have big causes”

Proportionality bias is a type of cognitive bias and is vital in explaining why some people may believe conspiracy theories. The crux of it is that big events have big causes. We want to believe that there is always a cause-and-effect relationship when things happen and that the bigger an event is, the bigger – and more bizarre, potentially – the trigger must be. 

One of the best examples of this is the deaths of notable figures such as Princess Diana and JFK. In the case of the former, Princess Diana was a much beloved and monumental figure at the time of her death. The fact that she could have been killed in an accident can seem meaningless and inexplicable: surely something bigger must have been at play? That is where you start to get people saying that the Royal Family killed her off – a motive befitting the death of such a huge personality. 

Social Identity and Conspiracy Theories

Social identity theory posits that individuals derive parts of their self-identity through group membership and collectives. The concept originally emerged as a way to explain how different groups interact together. However, looking at a single group can also explain why some people believe in conspiracy theories. 

With social identity, members of the groups will strongly identify with the principles and beliefs of the group.

To sustain the strong connection they have with their group and others in the same community, individuals tend to lean towards believing information that reinforces their bond with the group. By extension, they will accept shared beliefs that reject other groups, thereby fulfilling the original concept of social identity theory.

With the Internet comes the opportunity for people to easily connect with others with the same beliefs from all over the world at the click of a button. They can instantly be surrounded with information and perspectives that allow them to comfortably situate themselves within a group and feel as though they are part of a community.

The desire to belong to a collective identity can prompt individuals to embrace conspiracy theories out of fear of social exclusion or isolation.

Narcissism and Conspiracy Theories

People with narcissistic tendencies are more vulnerable to conspiracy theories than the average person. This is because narcissists have higher levels of paranoia and feel that people are ‘out to get them.’ This applies to their personal lives, but also to wider perceived threats.

Believing in conspiracy theories, therefore, allows them to have a sense of agency and control in their lives. The low self-esteem – even when manifested as an exaggerated or grandiose sense of being – and heightened suspiciousness means they are more receptive to such theories. 

“Collective narcissism led to heightened conspiracy beliefs”

They may even endorse conspiracy theories because it makes them feel superior to have ‘access’ to secret information. They believe that this access makes them different from their peers. It also allows them to have scapegoats to blame for things that they cannot control, in line with one of the European Commission’s identified features of conspiracy theorists. 

Collective narcissism also ties into the previously discussed factor of social identity. Studies have found that collective narcissism led to heightened conspiracy beliefs and intentionally spread misinformation about COVID-19. 

A Need For Stability

From seemingly lighthearted conspiracy theories like Avril Lavigne’s alleged replacement 20 years ago to more impactful ones like anti-vaxx beliefs, there are shared elements in the motivations behind each. The common threads appear to revolve around a longing to understand the world, and a need for stability within a community.

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Featured image courtesy of Michael via Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image license found here.

Maya graduated from the University of Oxford in June 2022, with a degree in Spanish and Linguistics. She is currently getting her NCTJ qualification at News Associates.

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