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How Belief in Conspiracy Theories Addresses Some Basic Human Needs

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The Psychology of Political Behavior in a Time of Change

Part of the book series: Identity in a Changing World ((ICW))

Abstract

When it comes to conspiracy theories, identifying underlying psychological mechanisms of believers is crucial as we face precarious geopolitical tensions and sweeping domestic cultural-political change. Believers can have enormous power to adversely affect the lives of others when they choose means of conspiratorial thinking. Research suggests that it is our emotions and beliefs rather than logical arguments appealing to reason that usually determine our belief in conspiracies. Many people, because of a strong psychological need for complete explanations when unusual events happen, coupled with intense feelings of needing to belong to a social group, are prone to believing in conspiracies. This paper examines just two of the basic human needs that are satisfied by belief in conspiracies and suggests that the rise of conspiratorial thinking in contemporary society is related to needs going unmet.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Towson University, Towson, MD, USA

    Evangeline A. Wheeler

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  1. Evangeline A. Wheeler
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Correspondence to Evangeline A. Wheeler .

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  1. Department of Psychology, Towson University, Towson, MD, USA

    Jan D. Sinnott  & Joan S. Rabin  & 

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Wheeler, E.A. (2021). How Belief in Conspiracy Theories Addresses Some Basic Human Needs. In: Sinnott, J.D., Rabin, J.S. (eds) The Psychology of Political Behavior in a Time of Change. Identity in a Changing World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38270-4_11

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