Why would anyone believe in conspiracy theories?

The more you browse the internet, the more conspiracy theories you will find. Conspiracy theories seem so hard to believe, but it turns out that there are still many people who believe that the earth is flat, vaccines cause autism, or the COVID-19 pandemic is a biological weapon that was made on purpose.

Technological development is like a double-edged sword. You can access unlimited information. On the other hand, information that is not yet clear is also increasingly circulating. In fact, what makes someone believe in a conspiracy theory?

Why would someone believe a conspiracy theory?

There are many reasons that a person or group of people might believe in conspiracy theories. According to a study in the journal Current Directions in Psychological ScienceThese reasons can be summarized into the following three motives:

1. The desire to understand and know for sure

Humans naturally want to understand the explanation of a thing or event. There are people who want to know how vaccines are made, where did the virus that causes COVID-19 come from, what the real shape of the earth looks like, and much more.

However, people tend to look for quick answers, not answers from scientific research that are difficult to digest and can change with new research. The quick answer isn't necessarily correct, but it does give you a sense of comfort and a very thorough impression.

For example, you may feel uncomfortable knowing nothing about COVID-19. Confused news makes you even more confused and anxious. It is at this time that conspiracy theories emerge to dispel the discomfort.

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You will initially look for information from the internet, books, or broadcasts that support this theory. Gradually, this theory also made an impression on your mind. While not true, at least you now know something more certain.

In fact, something that is certain is just possible to make you even more wrong. If this isn't accompanied by information from reliable sources, you may not even realize that you believe in conspiracy theories.

2. The desire to be in control and feel safe

Besides being happy to ask questions, humans also like to be in control of their lives. This is what makes you feel safe, stable, and calm about your daily life. In this case, the control you are looking for is in the form of information.

Conspiracy theories make people who believe in them feel safe and in control. This phenomenon is usually more obvious when the conspiracy theory deals with things that threaten self-welfare.

As an illustration, if global warming is caused by human activities, that means you have to change your lifestyle to prevent it from getting worse. For some people, this change may be difficult, uncomfortable, and troublesome.

However, you don't need to change your lifestyle if global warming is a hoax fabricated by the world's ruling political elites. This belief provides a sense of security and control over life. Finally, many people choose to believe in hoaxes or conspiracy theories.

3. The desire to look positive

Research shows that people who feel marginalized or disregarded are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. This is because they want to have a role in society and want to be seen positively to others.

A person's positive image usually comes from his role, whether in the form of work, social relationships, and others. When you know that you can provide something (including information) to other people, you feel happier and more useful.

Conversely, you will not feel this if your opinion is never heard, for example because you are unemployed or are thought to be ignorant. When you come across conspiracy theories and pass them on, you feel like you have new knowledge.

You also dig deeper into the conspiracy theories that you find, for example the theory that the earth is flat. However, you do not balance it with facts from scientific sources because you already believe in the conspiracy theory.

Basically, people believe in conspiracy theories because they want to understand the world, feel safe and in control, and have a good self-image. They want to find the truth, just like scientists with their questions.

The difference is, conspiracy theorists only see things or events from the side they believe in. In fact, science continues to develop. In order to find the real truth, humans must continue to learn new things from time to time.