Why do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 3.3.6
Why do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?
We will explore what makes people believe conspiracy theories.
Blame
- People who do not get their own way often want to blame others.
- "We did not lose our win was stolen" they might say.
- It may be a common human characteristic to deny one's own mistake.
Manipulation
- Some people benefit from conspiracy theories, so they invest a lot of time and resources to create a believable lie.
- They create lots of supposed evidence that can never be fully tested.
- Because they do not know how to contradict the theory, some people are persuaded by the 'evidence'.
Denial
- People may not want to accept the truth because it is hard.
- Climate change could be an example.
- It is easier to accept that it is a hoax than to accept the frightening fact that we are destroying the planet.
Easy answers
- Conspiracy theory is often another example of the attraction people have for easy answers to complex issues.
- Some people say the 2020 Covid outbreak was the result of a laboratory leak.
- But scientists will tell us that viruses are all around us.
- Virology and the work to contain the damage of the virus is a constant and complex battle.
The link with extremism?
- Put simply, extremists often rely on spreading misinformation, and suggest that we have lots of hidden enemies.
- This allows them to spread their ideas among people who feel hard done by, and who look for simple, extreme solutions.
Test yourself on Why do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?
What might extremists spread to try and recruit others?
Conspiracy theorists would suggest that we have lots of hidden, what?