People Drawn to Conspiracy Theories Share Psychological Features (2019)

It's unfortunate that "conspiracy theory" has taken on an indisputably negative connotation now. Conspiracies do occur, theories about them form. More often, people and entities behave in concert without conspiring per se, and this could be because of aligned goals or beliefs, or simply regulations that cause corporations to do the same sort of thing, especially when they keep an eye on one another.

For example, is "market rent" a conspiracy? Is it price-fixing or collusion? Hey, I just caught you making a theory!

I think the main bad thing about conspiracy theories (and other theories that may belong to crackpots and crazies) is that the facts mostly can't be known. If in fact there are conspiracies, nobody who's involved will speak openly and truthfully about them, so I guess just follow the money.

Or don't. Why not concern yourself with living your life, enjoying your family and friends, being a good neighbor, having some recreation time outdoors and stuff. All of these things are known cures for the "cluster of psychological features" that may trouble you.

> > As he delved into this climate change denialism, Lewandowsky, then at the University of Western Australia, discovered that many of the naysayers also believed in outlandish plots, such as the idea that the Apollo moon landing was a hoax created by the American government.

> The opening paragraph expresses an idea not present in Lewandowsky's 2013 paper[1], and looks more like an attempt to link dissent with more obviously fringe theories (much like "anti-vaxxers" and "flat-earthers").

Lewandowsky S, Oberauer K, Gignac GE (2013) NASA faked the moon landing—therefore (climate) science is a hoax: An anatomy of the motivated rejection of science. Psychological Science 24: 622–633.

It took way longer than that for the original conspiracy theory to be factualised. I'm talking about the fact that spooks killed a sitting president

And then there is that guy that points out the conspiracy to supplant every suspicion that nefarious actors plot against the unsuspecting masses of all others.

There are conspirators against your natural destinies. From profiteers looting government and the populous to secret social and political interests who thrive in the shadow of your refusal to believe.

Incredulity, self assurances, and an indulgent delusion of normalcy obscure and protect these conspiracies.

You are not the America you think you are, you are the America thought controlled.

The really weird thing though is, how people defend their preconceptions with "conspiracy theories", invoking stigma and thereby inhibiting further inquiry.

Which is unfortunate, as the actual reasons are at times much more interesting (and inconvenient) than people's infantilism allows.

There have been real conspiracies (MKULTRA might be remembered, Snowden's leaks were mere consiracy theory pre-leak). And those claiming them to be real were shunned as lunatics.

The (certainly?) currently existing, real conspiracies hide (are hidden?) behind the stigma as well. Is it wise to let them?