When Plato introduced the idea that Earth was spherical in the fourth century, many scholars and civilians were hesitant to believe it. Now more than 2,000 years and mounds of sufficient evidence later, a group of people still hold on to their view of a flat earth.
Most people assume that conspiracy theories are the result of lack of information or an incoherent imagination, but in reality, almost everyone has been exposed to theories in one form or another.
In uncertain times, when both online and real-world environments are filled with mistrust, many are drawn to conspiracy theories for comfort, intrigue and control. The desperation for understanding a conflict can lead people to embrace narratives that offer simple explanations and false security amid disorder. Theories have ranged from the moon landing hoax in 1969 to more recent examples of conspiring about the COVID-19 vaccine causing genetic changes.
Developing research has shown that people are becoming more susceptible to modern conspiracy theories because of a number of psychological reasons: biases that cause one to limit their sphere of information, questioning how proportional the conflict and solution are, and anxiety-driven responses in unpredictable situations.
One primary tendency that leads people to believe in conspiracy theories is when their pre-existing assumptions are agreed upon. This action is known as confirmation bias, which shapes and causes a person to interpret information in different ways. When a person fixates on a “right” answer or outcome to a conflict, they deny anything that may contradict it.
Moreover, conspiracy theories are usually a mental solution in complex situations. Many find it hard to believe that significant or impactful events can have a simple explanation. For instance, the assassination of John F. Kennedy was carried out by one gun man, as the Warren Commission concluded. People were in denial, however, of the simplicity of such a monumental act, instead ascribing it to larger and more complex government organizations.
One such theory entailed that the CIA was behind the assassination because Kennedy refused to provide military assistance to the Bay of Pigs invasion. A study conducted by the National Institute of Health showed that in 1963, 29% of people believed the official statement by the Warren Commission, but in 2001, this percentage decreased to 13%.
Conspiracy theories give people a sense of control in a spiraling environment. Vaccines, for example, are usually mandated during times of high pressure, death and fear. The high-strung emotions prevalent during such times have enabled the ridiculous yet pervasive theory that vaccines cause autism in children.
The theory began as early as in the Spanish Influenza time period, and more recently with COVID-19. The vaccine had a lot of people believing that pharmacies were withholding information about the vaccines, like how they would allegedly change DNA, or allow the government to control individuals with it.
Louisiana State University reported, 50% of Americans have shown to believe in at least one conspiracy. As conspiracy theories become more prevalent within society, being exposed to them is almost inevitable. Thus, it is critical for everyone to be media literate, to enable critical thinking skills and be aware of how to discern a reliable source from a questionable one.
Most importantly, social media, the biggest harbor of misinformation, should not serve as the main source to verify information. While conspiracy theories are often an easy way to understand the world, getting caught up in them is far easier. Instead, people should aim to foster an open-minded and receptive environment.