Why Are Conspiracy Theories So Popular? | Between The Lines

Conspiracy theories have become increasingly popular in the U.S., moving from fringe groups to the mainstream. This phenomenon has even reached the highest levels of government, with conspiracy theories influencing political discourse.

- Conspiracy theories are for losers, as they use them to motivate their base against powerful institutions. - After electoral losses, creative conspiracies emerge as almost half of the losing party claims something went wrong or there was fraud. - Examples include conspiracy theories about Bill and Hillary Clinton killing people after Bill Clinton's win in '94 and beliefs that George W. Bush's brother or the Supreme Court rigged the election in his favor in 2000.

"Conspiracy Theory Makes People Feel Better" explores the surprising phenomenon of conspiracy theories providing emotional comfort. Joanne Miller, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, along with Christina Farhart from Carlton College, conducted a study on this topic. Contrary to expectations, believing in a secret plot can actually make individuals feel better about certain events or situations. For example, some find it more comforting to believe that a US president orchestrated the collapse of towers rather than accepting that evil terrorists were responsible for such acts."

The Illusion of Control Conspiracy theories provide an illusion of control during times of loss. However, people rarely believe in just one conspiracy theory. Studies show that those who believe in one conspiracy theory are more likely to believe in others such as vaccinations causing autism or global warming being a hoax.

'Less Frequent Voting' Phenomenon Individuals with high levels of conspiratorial thinking tend to vote less frequently and participate less actively within the political system. This is because they distrust the government due to their belief in secret plots.

The Danger of Conspiracy Theories "Conspiracy theories are dangerous because they strip us of our agency to act." Vaccine conspiracy theories, for example, lead to lower vaccination rates and preventable diseases.

Widespread Belief in Conspiracy Theories "About 50% of the US population believes at least one conspiracy theory." These beliefs are more prevalent than we think.

The Positive Impact of Conspiracy Theorists Conspiracy theorists have played a role in important investigations such as the 9-11 Commission, Watergate, and inquiries into Trump's actions.

The Uncovering of Truth Conspiracy theories, even when proven false, can lead to the uncovering of truth. It is important for people to question political power and be aware of current administrations and the political environment.

Understanding Root Causes 'Instead of fighting conspiratorial thinking, we should strive to better understand its root causes. Conspiracy theories are a part of the human experience and will always exist.'

Listening to Institutions While conspiracy theories may occasionally turn out true, it is advisable to listen to institutions that create knowledge rather than blindly believing them.