Authoritarian minds may be primed for conspiracy beliefs, study suggests
Contrary to popular belief, conspiracy theories may not drive democratic decline—rather, those who reject democracy seem more prone to conspiratorial thinking.
Measles is back and anti-vaccine sentiment is to blame
Measles is surging again, and experts say fear, mistrust, and misinformation—not just ignorance—are fueling vaccine hesitancy.
Sleep-deprived minds are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories
A new study suggests that how well you sleep may influence how much you believe in conspiracy theories.
Collective narcissism, paranoia, and distrust in science predict climate change conspiracy beliefs
A Turkish study finds psychological traits, not political views or social media use, predict belief in climate change conspiracy theories.
New study flips the script on conspiracy beliefs and economic insecurity
Conspiracy beliefs are often seen as reactions to uncertainty, but new research suggests they might actually create more of it.
Chronic unmet psychological needs are linked to stronger conspiracy beliefs
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.
Intriguing effect of conspiracy thinking revealed in new study
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.
Rationalizing vaccine hesitancy: Conspiracy beliefs arise after fear-driven avoidance, study suggests
Vaccine hesitancy may stem from fear, and new research indicates conspiracy theories could play a role in solidifying this reluctance. Fearful individuals might embrace conspiracies to rationalize their decision against vaccination.
Neutral information about Jews triggers conspiracy thinking in Trump voters, study finds
New research shows a clear partisan split: when Biden supporters encountered conspiracies, they tended to view Jewish people as having too much power, whereas Trump supporters exposed to neutral information about Jewish history became more prone to endorsing conspiracies.
How social media twists retracted COVID-19 papers, fueling mistrust in science
A new study demonstrates how retractions meant to safeguard research integrity are being reframed on social media, enabling the spread of misinformation and the erosion of public trust in scientific findings.
Does stress make people more susceptible to conspiracy theories?
Recent found that while acute stress significantly increased cortisol levels, it did not lead to higher endorsement of conspiracy theories or conspiratorial interpretations of new information, suggesting stress's influence on such beliefs may be minimal.
People prone to experiencing anger are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories
Individuals with higher trait anger and conspiracy mentality are more likely to believe in both low- and high-evil conspiracy theories, with younger and less educated individuals showing stronger belief in low-evil theories.
Listening to Joe Rogan predicts belief in extraterrestrial UFOs, study finds
Consuming paranormal documentaries, reality TV, Fox News, YouTube, and the Joe Rogan Experience podcast is linked to stronger belief in UFOs, while general media consumption and traditional news showed no such connection.
Younger individuals more likely to endorse conspiracy beliefs
A recent study found that conspiracy beliefs slightly decrease with age. Younger individuals tend to have stronger beliefs, linked to lower self-esteem, political dissatisfaction, and a preference for activism.
Why some people share conspiracy theories they don’t even believe
Research indicates that many individuals who share conspiracy theories online don't actually believe them; instead, they do so for personal gain, to create chaos, incite conflict, or garner attention.
