Conspiracy Theories

New research reveals that believing in conspiracy theories directly reduces people's faith in societal fairness, eroding the perception that resources are distributed based on merit, equality, or need.

New research suggests that people who endorse conspiracy theories frequently adopt the role of online "social vigilantes." This confrontational behavior—including arguing and online shaming—is closely linked to feelings of superiority and narcissistic desires for status.

New research published in the British Journal of Psychology suggests that experiencing personal hardship does not directly cause conspiracy beliefs. Instead, adversity tends to foster a sense of injustice, which then makes conspiratorial ideas more appealing.

New research suggests that believing a conspiracy theory doesn't always translate to real-world behavior. Instead, the likelihood of taking action is linked to how certain people are about their beliefs and how useful they find them.

An exaggerated sense of superiority about one's social class can foster belief in anti-psychiatry conspiracy theories. New research suggests that this defensive group identity creates barriers to seeking professional mental health treatment.

People with a conspiratorial mindset don't always spin elaborate plots when faced with ambiguity. Instead, a new study suggests their worldview leaks out through specific, suspicious word choices and complex sentence structures.

Sharing controversial conspiracy theories in a dating app bio might make a profile seem unique, but research shows it usually results in fewer matches and harsher judgments from potential romantic partners.

New research shows that when current events restrict our freedom, they subconsciously trigger past memories of feeling controlled. These frustrating memories act as a psychological defense mechanism, making people more likely to embrace and share bogus conspiracy theories.

A person’s tendency to see secret plots strongly predicts their belief in political rumors. But new research suggests this trait has limits: people quickly dismiss conspiracies if the rumors make their own political allies look bad.

General belief in secret plots predicts whether someone will oppose local wind farms months later. At the same time, opposing specific turbine projects can deepen a person’s broad suspicions, creating a cycle that threatens the transition to renewable energy.

A new study mapping European political attitudes reveals that people who favor left-wing economic policies but hold conservative cultural views are the most likely to endorse conspiracy theories.

People often isolate themselves in online information bubbles. A new study suggests that balanced AI news chatbots provide a trusted source of diverse news, appealing heavily to readers who typically distrust mainstream media narratives.

New research provides evidence that active political participation mixed with election fraud conspiracy beliefs predicted support for the Capitol riots. The findings show how unverified narratives can push standard political engagement toward the justification of illegal acts.

Why do analytical people fall for conspiracy theories? A new study reveals that individuals who crave strict rules and predictable patterns are easily drawn to the artificial sense of order that conspiratorial narratives provide.

Researchers have discovered that everyday nervousness is linked to conspiracy theory endorsement, while stress regarding elections and polarization is not. This challenges the assumption that political anxiety drives conspiratorial thinking.