Consequences Of Conspiracies

 

Conspiracy Theories gained popularity in the 1960s when POTUS John F. Kennedy was assassinated. During this time people really started to understand the impact such conspiracy theories could have on the society- psychologically and sociologically.

The Psychology in Conspiracy Theories

Psychologically, conspiracies can be harmful. It is associated with an increase of paranoia and believing in them is related to a mental disorder known as schizotypy.

Conspiracy theories often make use of complicated and detailed arguments, including ones which appear to be analytical or scientific. Experts assert that explanations related to conspiracy theories can often be ‘consistent.’

Psychological motives that lead people to believe in conspiracies can be epistemic, existential or social. Vulnerable and disadvantaged people are the targets of them. Instead of helping them overcome such weaknesses, conspiracies help worsen them. Furthermore, they also make people less likely to take actions that could improve their circumstances.

Conspiracy theories have a number of negative attributes. For example, they promote a negative and distrustful view of other people and groups. This leads to alienation and isolation.

How Conspiracies Attract Society

The burning question is, if they bring out the darkest perspectives of one's mind, why would one, then, start believing in conspiracies? Not just one. Every theory is backed by a hefty number of us.

The three plausible reasons why people are drawn towards conspiracies are:

1. They appear to make sense of a world that is otherwise confusing.

2. They are simple because they trace all evil forces back to one single source, the conspirator and their agents.

3. Conspiracy theories are often denoted as special and secret knowledge. While the mass is a brainwashed herd, the people coming up with these theories can commend themselves on penetrating the plotter’s deception. 

“Delusional ideation" is the most likely condition that would indicate an elevated belief in conspiracy theories.

The Sociology in Conspiracy Theories

Sociologically, these conspiracies tend to gain more popularity among losers. Conspiracy theories may be emotionally satisfying, by assigning blame to a group to which the theorist does not belong and so absolving the theorist of moral or political responsibility in society. Events that are most important are hardest to understand because they attract the greatest attention from myth makers and charlatans.

There are two approaches to this:

1. The “fairy position” where scientifically backed up conspiracies are given favor.

2. The “fact position” suggests that external forces like economics dominate mass.

Some people who see through conspiracies are too worried to detect. They are afraid to use the free power of knowledge in the mad mixture of knee-jerk disbelief and demand for proof.

“Fusion paranoia” is a term which refers to a political convergence of left-wing and right-wing activists which motivates the public to conspire or share anti-government views. This term refers to how the synthesis of paranoid conspiracy theories, which were once limited to American fringe audiences, has given them mass appeal and enabled them to become commonplace in mass media, thereby inaugurating an unrivaled period of people actively preparing for apocalyptic or millenarian scenarios.

Christopher Hitchens described conspiracies as the “exhaust fumes of democracy". This is the unavoidable result of information circulating among a large number of people.

The personalities easily affected

The personality features that were solidly linked to conspiracy beliefs included some usual suspects: entitlement, self-centered impulsivity, cold-heartedness (the confident injustice collector), elevated levels of depressive moods and anxiousness (the moody figure, confined by age or circumstance). Another one emerged from the questionnaire that aimed to assess personality disorders — a pattern of thinking called “psychoticism.”

People often adopt conspiracy beliefs as a placebo for deep trenched greivances. The theories afford some psychological fodder, a sense of control, an internal voice to make sense of a world that seems senseless.

In conclusion, conspiracies have disastrous psychological and sociological effects. One must be extremely careful as to not fall for such theories.