Conspiracy Theories

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.

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.

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.

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.