Conspiracy Theories: Evolved Functions and Psychological Mechanisms

• Published in: Perspectives on psychological science Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 770 - 788
• Main Authors: van Prooijen, Jan-Willem, van Vugt, Mark
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.11.2018; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Coalitions; Conspiracy; Cross-cultural psychology; Cues; Evolutionary psychology; Immediate; Pattern recognition; Pharmaceutical industry; Psychological mechanisms; September 11 terrorist attacks-2001; Terrorism; by-product; adaptation; evolutionary psychology; coalitions; conspiracy theories

Belief in conspiracy theories—such as that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job or that the pharmaceutical industry deliberately spreads diseases—is a widespread and culturally universal phenomenon. Why do so many people around the globe believe conspiracy theories, and why are they so infl...