Why Do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?

Here’s what the data and experts say about factors that contribute to unproven or disproven narratives:

• They believe they benefit both socially and existentially from the conspiracy theory;
• They need to feel unique by knowing “scarce information.”
• They have a strong sense of individualism. Some people value individual freedoms as a moral imperative. This may lessen their sense of responsibility toward collective concerns.