Truth decayHow are conspiracy theories adopted, and what are their risks?

Published 16 May 2019

Why do people adopt conspiracy theories, how are they communicated, and what are their risks? A new report examines these questions, drawing on research in psychology, information engineering, political science, and sociology.

Why do people adopt conspiracy theories, how are they communicated, and what are their risks? A new CREST report examines these questions, drawing on research in psychology, information engineering, political science, and sociology.

A new report, titled Why Do People Adopt Conspiracy Theories, How Are They Communicated, and What Are Their Risks?, provides a comprehensive and interdisciplinary review of the existing conspiracy theory research.

It focuses on three specific areas:

1.      First, it explores the extant literature addressing belief in conspiracy theories, focusing on the psychological, political and social factors that correlate with heightened belief. That is, what factors predict conspiracy belief?

2.      Second, it examines the ways in which conspiracy theories travel across interpersonal relations, through traditional and new media, and on social media. That is, when are conspiracy theories communicated, through what means and in what forms, and what are the motives for these communications?

3.      Third, it considers the risks and rewards associated with conspiracy theories. In other words, what is the relationship between conspiracy theories and prejudice, the rejection of science and medicine, and radicalization and extremism? How do conspiracy theories contribute to these and other social ills?  To buttress this discussion, the report assesses the opposite side of the ledger and denote the benefits gained from conspiracy theories and for the people who believe them.

CREST notes that the report is part of a series of reports from the Why Do People Adopt Conspiracy Theories, How Are They Communicated, and What Are Their Risks? program at the University of Kent, which is led by Professor Karen Douglas. This project is a multi-disciplinary literature review on the emergence, transmission, spread, and countering of conspiracy theories. The project was funded by the Center for Research and Evidence on Security Threats (CREST).

— Read more in Karen Douglas et al., Conspiracy Theories: How are they adopted, communicated, and what are their risks? (CREST, 2019); see here for more CREST studies of conspiracies and conspiracy theories.