A psychologist explains why people believe conspiracy theories - Business Insider

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A psychologist explains why people cling to conspiracy theories during uncertainty and after traumatic events (via PsychCentral)

What is the purpose of the second shooter? As proof that the official narrative is false, as the second shooter points to some "new world order" plot that is intent on taking over our government and society. Or something like that. The rationale for a second shooter requires a suspension of your belief in reality and simple critical thinking.Researchers have been hard at work examining why a small minority of the population believe, and even thrive, on conspiracy theories.

None of this should be surprising, because once you start to analyze a situation with demonstrable facts, it usually — and quite thoroughly — will break down the conspiracy theory into its component parts, none of which make sense standing on their own. For example, with zero evidence, conspiracy theorists need to invent a reason for a second shooter in Las Vegas, to match what they see as "facts.

Our findings can also be connected to recent research demonstrating that individual narcissism, or a grandiose idea of the self, is positively related to belief in conspiracy theories. Interestingly, Cichocka et al. found that paranoid thought mediates the relationship between individual narcissism and conspiracy beliefs.

People who feel powerless may also endorse conspiracy theories as they also help the individual avoid blame for their predicament. In this sense, conspiracy theories give a sense of meaning, security and control over an unpredictable and dangerous world. Finally, and most simply, conspiracy beliefs — which imply a level of Machiavellianism and power enacted by those without fixed morality — are most likely to resonate with people who feel powerless and believe that society lacks norms.

 

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PsychCentral 'why people cling to conspiracy theories?' 🤔 because the MSM lies to them every day.

PsychCentral My conspiracies turned out to be right or even too optimistic. I became paranoid about messengers, social networks, and governments. 3 months after, Snowden went public. 1 week before Germanwings flight crashed, I was musing about a locked cockpit on MH-370.

PsychCentral 🐴 💩 John, read any part of this book and dispute it’s a conspiracy...

PsychCentral Sounds like certain politician and his followers

PsychCentral That might all be true but Weinstein still didn’t kill himself.

PsychCentral A PSYCHOLOGIST DISCOVERS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH More news at 11!

PsychCentral Conspiracy theories are brain teasers.

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