Conspiracy theories are often seen as the domain of the paranoid and mistrustful, but new research suggests a deeper, more evolutionary reason for why some people are more inclined to believe in them. A recent study published in the journal Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences found that people who grew up in stressful environments are more likely to hold conspiracy beliefs.
This connection appears to be linked to certain personality traits collectively known as the Dark Triad. The researchers propose that believing in conspiracies might be an adaptive response shaped by early life experiences.
Conspiracy theories are beliefs that significant events or situations are the result of secret, often malevolent actions by powerful groups or individuals. These theories can span a wide range of topics, from political and social events to health and science. Despite lacking credible evidence, conspiracy theories often gain traction because they offer simplistic explanations for complex phenomena, providing a sense of order and control in an otherwise uncertain world.
The study aimed to explore the underlying psychological mechanisms that lead some individuals to adopt conspiracy beliefs. The researchers hypothesized that growing up in difficult or stressful environments could predispose people to develop these beliefs as an adaptive response to perceived threats.
According to evolutionary psychology, belief systems help individuals navigate essential life tasks, such as survival and reproduction. In challenging environments, a heightened sense of vigilance and suspicion might be advantageous, leading to the development of a conspiratorial mindset.
“I was interested in this topic because conspiracy beliefs can serve as coping mechanisms in a complex and threatening world,” said study author Anna Zarazińska, a PhD candidate at The Maria Grzegorzewska University. “We aimed to understand whether conspiracy beliefs are a facultative response to living in difficult conditions in the past or part of a generalized faster life history strategy. This exploration can reveal critical insights into the psychological factors driving these beliefs.”
The study was conducted with 360 participants from Poland, ranging in age from 18 to 79, with slightly over half being men. These participants were surveyed online to assess various aspects of their personality, childhood experiences, and belief systems.
The general conspiracy beliefs were assessed using the Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale, which includes 15 items that cover a broad range of conspiracy topics. Participants responded to statements like “A small, secret group of people is responsible for making all major world decisions, such as going to war,” indicating how true they believed each statement was.
The researchers also assessed local conspiracy beliefs using a set of ten conspiracy theories deemed relevant in Polish society. These included current and politically sensitive topics, such as the belief that the real reason for the Russian attack on Ukraine was secret laboratories for the production of biological weapons, set up at the initiative of the United States.
Difficult childhood conditions were assessed with eight items that participants rated based on their agreement with statements about their childhood. These items included aspects such as stability, predictability, and safety. Examples of items were “My childhood was stressful” and “My childhood was predictable” (reverse-coded). These responses were averaged to create an index reflecting the overall difficulty of participants’ childhood conditions.
Life history strategy was measured using the Mini-K Scale, a 20-item instrument that assesses various domains such as family social contacts, support from friends, harm avoidance, quality of parental relationships, insight, planning, and control. Participants rated their agreement with statements like “I can often tell how things will turn out.” Higher scores on this scale indicated a slower life history strategy, characterized by long-term planning and investment in relationships and personal development.
Coping strategies were evaluated with the Mini-Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Mini-COPE) questionnaire, consisting of 28 items. This questionnaire measures how participants react to difficult or stressful events, with items like “I pray or meditate” and “I use alcohol or other drugs to make myself feel better.”
The Dark Triad traits were assessed using the Short Dark Triad questionnaire, which includes 27 items measuring Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy. Participants indicated their agreement with statements such as “It’s not wise to tell your secrets” (Machiavellianism), “I like to get acquainted with important people” (narcissism), and “People often say I’m out of control” (psychopathy).
The researchers found that both general and local conspiracy beliefs were positively correlated with reports of difficult childhood conditions. This provides evidence that individuals who experienced unstable or threatening environments during childhood are more likely to develop a conspiratorial mindset in adulthood.
The Dark Triad traits were also positively correlated with conspiracy beliefs. Among these traits, Machiavellianism had the strongest association with general conspiracy beliefs. Interestingly, Machiavellianism was more strongly linked to general conspiracy beliefs than to local ones, indicating that individuals with manipulative and cynical tendencies are more likely to endorse broad, overarching conspiracy theories.
The researchers found that Machiavellianism partially mediated the relationship between difficult childhood conditions and conspiracy beliefs. This means that individuals who experienced difficult childhoods might develop Machiavellian traits, which in turn make them more prone to believing in conspiracies. The mediation effect was significant for both general and local conspiracy beliefs, highlighting the role of manipulative and distrustful tendencies in shaping these beliefs.
The results indicate that “conspiracy beliefs may be linked to adverse childhood experiences and specific personality traits,” Zarazińska told PsyPost. “Our study highlights the importance of recognizing these connections, as they can influence how individuals navigate challenging environments.”
Interestingly, gender differences were observed in the associations between Machiavellianism and conspiracy beliefs. Specifically, the correlation between Machiavellianism and general conspiracy beliefs was stronger in women than in men.
“A surprising finding was a stronger association between Machiavellianism and general conspiracy beliefs, particularly among women,” Zarazińska said. “This highlights the importance of personality traits in the development of belief systems and suggests evolutionary mechanisms at work.”
The researchers had anticipated that life history strategy, which includes how individuals allocate resources and make decisions about growth, reproduction, and survival, would be related to conspiracy beliefs. However, the general indicator of life history strategy was not significantly associated with either general conspiracy beliefs or local conspiracy beliefs.
“One major caveat is the psychometric properties of the measures used, particularly the Mini-K scale for life history strategy,” Zarazińska explained. “These properties may not fully capture the specific strategies individuals employ, which could affect the interpretation of our results.”
In addition, the study’s design does not allow for establishing causality. Future research could benefit from longitudinal studies to explore the temporal relationship between childhood conditions and conspiracy beliefs.
“My long-term goals include further exploring the relationships between living conditions, personality traits, and conspiracy beliefs,” Zarazińska said. “By drawing on evolutionary models of conspiracy beliefs, I aim to deepen our understanding of individual differences in conspiratorial mindset and develop interventions that can promote healthier coping strategies.
“I would like to emphasize the importance of considering both past experiences and personality traits when studying conspiracy beliefs. This holistic approach can lead to more effective solutions for addressing the social impact of such beliefs and foster a better understanding of the adaptive mechanisms involved.”
The study, “Developing Conspiracy Theories: Conspiracy Beliefs Are Correlated With Perceived Childhood Adversity,” was authored by Anna Zarazińska and Peter K. Jonason.
