Why Do People Believe In Conspiracy Theories, And What Makes Them Stop?

This time last year, I was probably preparing for the annual Halloween party a friend used to host — we made our own Spider-Man suits for her famous costume contest, in which each of the 50-odd guests got a vote. Around this time last year, I wrote something for some handwashing awareness campaign and considered the topic thoroughly dull. This time last year, I often took my kids swimming, and we frequently ate out. 

This time last year, life was normal. Then 2020 hit. If this is the apocalypse, it's certainly less exciting than any of the dystopian fiction I've ever read or watched, but there's no doubt that "surreal" has taken the place that "normal" held, not that long ago. None of the things I took for granted this time last year are possible, now.

Health Literacy Awareness Month — especially one taking place in the shadow of a global pandemic that still shows no signs of going anywhere — seems like a good time to tackle the factors that draw people into conspiracy theories, and specifically health-related ones. 

What are conspiracy theories, exactly?

Conspiracy theories could be described as beliefs in the idea that a powerful group of people is engaging in secret activities that will benefit them but harm nearly everyone else. Since actual conspiracies do have a verifiable history of existing, however, another definition makes more sense: "The unnecessary assumption of conspiracy when other explanations are more probable".

There is no doubt that using the term "conspiracy theory" to describe an idea is loaded, in the sense that it indicates that you don't just disagree, but think it at least slightly crazy. Conspiracy theorists would be more likely to label themselves skeptics, and to call their theory an idea, belief, or simply "the truth". Mind you — research indicates that using the term conspiracy theory to describe a belief doesn't actually make people less likely to fall for it. 

What kinds of things make people believe in conspiracy theories?

A general distrust in authority, being cynical about the political process, non-conformist tendencies, unusual life experiences, and superstitious beliefs all make it more likely that someone will accept a conspiracy theory as true. Lower levels of formal education can also play a role.

These identified risk factors may make it seem like some people are simply vulnerable to conspiracy theories while others are more resistant. That's true to some extent — research has shown that folks who believe in one conspiracy theory very often believe in several, even though they tend to contradict each other. 

These times, during which we can feel powerless to change anything, eat away at our mental health. Humans hate uncertainty — for good reason — and crave stability and safety. When the world seems incredibly random, and not in a good way, belief in a conspiracy theory can make sense of it all. Conspiracy theories replace scary, random, uncertainty with a tangible "enemy", one that can be fought against (or at least raged about on social media).

What's more, communities of conspiracy theorists can offer people a unique sense of belonging, a newfound purpose in life, and a feeling of being one of the "special few" who "get it". Seeking purpose, community, and happiness is a pretty normal part of being human — so I bet we can all relate to that. 

Research has even identified five "stages" of conspiracy theory belief, which I'll paraphrase here:

• A "noob" conspiracy theorist is someone who's just thinking of dipping their toes in. They may be unhappy with the way things are at the moment, believe that something is not "quite right" in society, and disagree with the way in which some issues are handled. They may be willing to learn more. 
• One level up, people will believe that official narratives (offered by the mainstream news, politicians, and scientists) aren't the whole story. They have now entered a twilight zone where they have no idea what's true and not. (Neither of these first two levels makes someone a conspiracy theorist, but there is some vulnerability.)
• At level three, someone may have either bought into an established conspiracy theory or two, or at least have formed the opinion that there may be some truth to some conspiracy theories. Some official narratives, people will believe at this point, are lies, but not all.
• At level four, people are now "pro conspiracy theorists". They'll believe that (almost) nothing professed in mainstream society is true. There's a layer of lies, and underneath that, a smaller group of people know the truth and fight to get it out. Pro conspiracy theorists believe they are part of the minority that possesses all knowledge, and everyone else is wrong, and will be bouncing around echo chambers with their fellow believers.
• A final stage of conspiracy-theory belief would include not just implausible ideas, but also bizarre ones. At this point, phenomena like aliens, demons, and ghosts enter the picture. 

Why conspiracy theorists believe what they do: A look at popular medical conspiracy theories

Conspiracy theories come in all shapes and forms — from the belief that the Earth is flat and the entire scientific community is working hard to hide that to the idea that aliens on a planet orbiting the sun in the outer regions of the solar system will come back to enslave us. Oh, they built the Pyramids too.

Health is another extremely popular genre among conspiracy theorists. 

The belief that vaccines are intentionally administered to cause harm to whole populations is one popular conspiracy theory in the health sphere. Motivations anti-vaccine conspiracy theories ascribe to whoever's behind the conspiracy (as diverse as Big Pharma and the CIA) range from profit to plots to render groups of people infertile. Anti-vaccine conspiracy theories have been around ever since the first vaccine — against the now-eradicated smallpox — made its appearance.

Many conspiracy theorists believe that a cure for cancer exists, but it's being denied to the general population. This one comes in many variations. In some theories, "they" (whoever they are) first conspire to make sure people get cancer, so they can then cure it for profit. In others, cancer is a tool to reduce the population, or the pharmaceutical industry hides the "truth" that cancer can be cured with baking soda or shamanic rituals (or whatever else), so that they can rake in the dollars. There are also conspiracy theories according to which vaccines intentionally cause cancer — because for whatever reason, vaccines have always got to be mentioned.

Viruses are another common target for conspiracy theorists. HIV, Ebola, and SARS have all been said to have been manufactured by governments for various reasons, with many people still holding these views today.

More recently, of course, COVID-19 has become the hot topic among conspiracy theorists. Conspiracy theories about COVID-19 are both abundant and varied:

• The Chinese government (or otherwise the United States) intentionally created the virus as a biological weapon.
• COVID-19 was created in a Chinese lab, from which it accidentally "escaped". 
• The mainstream media, Democrats, the Chinese, scientists, or insert whoever else, blow COVID-19 way out of proportion to make Donald Trump look bad.
• COVID-19 is a ploy to depopulate the Earth.
• COVID-19 isn't real. 
• Bill Gates is conspiring to put trackers into everyone's body by way of COVID-19 vaccines. (This one, as you see, combines anti-vaxx and COVID-19 conspiracy theories.)
• COVID-19 is spread through 5G. 

These conspiracy theories, and others like it, appear largely to be based on a lack of understanding of (admittedly, incredibly complex) scientific concepts and processes, combined with a general distrust of authority and a desperate wish to be in control or have all the answers. 

People ascribing to these conspiracy theories don't just quietly share their opinions and memes on Facebook or Twitter while dutifully staying at home to flatten the curve. They're the lady that walks up to you in the street warning you that face masks are dangerous and take your liberty away (how?), the man who coughs in your face, or even the person on your ballot paper, in some cases. 

Instead, the authors said, we need to work on a way to reduce anxiety and uncertainty within society — and when the conspiracy theorists feel less afraid, their need to hold on to the illogical may vanish into thin air.