Conspiracy Theories

A recent study tested whether people can be “inoculated” against misinformation by shifting how they think. The results suggest that boosting open-minded thinking through a simple message can reduce conspiracy beliefs and help individuals better separate truth from falsehood.

A massive 15-country study suggests that people who are highly sensitive to personal injustice are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories — including claims about climate change and vaccines — regardless of broader societal histories of conflict or oppression.

A new study suggests that believing in one conspiracy theory may slightly increase the likelihood of believing in others. The research offers rare causal evidence in support of the long-debated “rabbit hole” model of how conspiracy beliefs spread.

Belief in anti-immigrant conspiracies may be fueled by financial hardship and a sense of societal breakdown, according to new research. Across six studies, economic stress predicted support for discriminatory policies and even violent actions against non-European immigrants.

People who believe in conspiracy theories tend to overestimate their own abilities and wrongly assume that others share their views, according to a new study. The findings highlight overconfidence as a key factor behind conspiracy belief.

A new study used artificial intelligence to analyze over 75,000 Reddit posts and uncover the deep emotional toll QAnon beliefs take on families. The findings reveal widespread grief, fear, and strained relationships as loved ones struggle with ideological division.

Psychologists have found that conspiracy theory beliefs may stem from spite triggered by feelings of social, existential, or cognitive disadvantage. The findings suggest that tackling misinformation requires addressing deeper social inequalities and psychological frustrations.

People prone to conspiracy theories may share cognitive tendencies with those who experience delusional thinking. Two new studies suggest that biases like anomalous perception and impulsive reasoning help explain why some are more likely to embrace conspiratorial beliefs.

Contrary to popular belief, conspiracy theories may not drive democratic decline—rather, those who reject democracy seem more prone to conspiratorial thinking.

Measles is surging again, and experts say fear, mistrust, and misinformation—not just ignorance—are fueling vaccine hesitancy.

A new study suggests that how well you sleep may influence how much you believe in conspiracy theories.

A Turkish study finds psychological traits, not political views or social media use, predict belief in climate change conspiracy theories.

Conspiracy beliefs are often seen as reactions to uncertainty, but new research suggests they might actually create more of it.

Belief in conspiracy theories has been linked to psychological factors, and a new study examined this connection over several years, focusing on the needs for control, belonging, self-esteem, and meaning in life.

Believing in conspiracies might change how we see inequality. New research shows conspiracy thinking makes people less likely to blame disadvantaged groups for their struggles, and more critical of the wealthy.