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What are the psychological principles that drive people to believe in absolutely insane things that can easily be disproven? Why does this even happen? What do

What are the psychological principles that drive people to believe in absolutely insane things that can easily be disproven? Why does this even happen? What do these people get from having these beliefs? Why do they do vehemently defend them to the point of fanaticism? These aren't hypothetical questions. I genuinely do not understand these people or their behavior on any level and I never see any attempt at an explanation anywhere - here, social media, mainstream media, documentaries - you name it.

ra7 6y ago
I'm no expert, but my guess is lack of education combined with extreme political divide in the country. From what I've observed, one side thinks whatever the "other side" believes in must be wrong and harmful, so they are obligated to take a contrarian view and are willing to die on that hill.
cwkoss 6y ago
A large portion of pizzagate was focused on Epstein... and arguably was responsible for him finally being arrested. I think the key for conspiracy theories is that they find a kernel of truth that powerful people don't readily admit, and then fill in the information gaps with their own narrative.
mgh2 6y ago
Distrust in authorities is understandable by the less educated, taking into account how the elite lies and takes advantage of the population. The problem comes from the top: their irresponsible and unethical practices led to today's divided country. t.ly/Fb8F
- roel_v 6y ago
  I'm not sure it's (only) an educated vs uneducated thing. I have a friend who is an anesthesiologist who is a (somewhat) anti-vaxxer, and university professor friends (yes, more than one) who are (again, somewhat) conspiracy theorists. Not chemtrail level, but 'yeah but how do we know MH17 wasn't a false flag operation by the Americans' level. (to me, that's already nutjob territory; for others, that's 'healthy scepticism'). In these people, I theorize it's a badge of honor for them to be contrarian, and to be 'independent thinkers'. Which, in the abstract, is a good thing I guess - but where is the line? It's all phrased in a way that there is no 'proof' possible, because there is always an extra layer of 'but that's just what THEY want you to think!'. I was at a (responsibly socially distanced, thank you) bbq yesterday where several highly intelligent, respected professionals were spouting... let's say... things with dubious intellectual justification. But hey, with some in that company being literally antifa t-shirt wearing activists, at least it's entertaining!
roel_v 6y ago
There are quite a number of studies on this in sociology, psychology and psychiatry literature. I don't have any at hand, and as usual it would take a bit of trial and error to stumble upon the right jargon in each subfield to unlock most of it, but it's definitely out there.

ra7 6y ago

I'm no expert, but my guess is lack of education combined with extreme political divide in the country. From what I've observed, one side thinks whatever the "other side" believes in must be wrong and harmful, so they are obligated to take a contrarian view and are willing to die on that hill.

cwkoss 6y ago

A large portion of pizzagate was focused on Epstein... and arguably was responsible for him finally being arrested. I think the key for conspiracy theories is that they find a kernel of truth that powerful people don't readily admit, and then fill in the information gaps with their own narrative.

mgh2 6y ago

Distrust in authorities is understandable by the less educated, taking into account how the elite lies and takes advantage of the population. The problem comes from the top: their irresponsible and unethical practices led to today's divided country. t.ly/Fb8F

roel_v 6y ago
I'm not sure it's (only) an educated vs uneducated thing. I have a friend who is an anesthesiologist who is a (somewhat) anti-vaxxer, and university professor friends (yes, more than one) who are (again, somewhat) conspiracy theorists. Not chemtrail level, but 'yeah but how do we know MH17 wasn't a false flag operation by the Americans' level. (to me, that's already nutjob territory; for others, that's 'healthy scepticism'). In these people, I theorize it's a badge of honor for them to be contrarian, and to be 'independent thinkers'. Which, in the abstract, is a good thing I guess - but where is the line? It's all phrased in a way that there is no 'proof' possible, because there is always an extra layer of 'but that's just what THEY want you to think!'. I was at a (responsibly socially distanced, thank you) bbq yesterday where several highly intelligent, respected professionals were spouting... let's say... things with dubious intellectual justification. But hey, with some in that company being literally antifa t-shirt wearing activists, at least it's entertaining!

roel_v 6y ago

There are quite a number of studies on this in sociology, psychology and psychiatry literature. I don't have any at hand, and as usual it would take a bit of trial and error to stumble upon the right jargon in each subfield to unlock most of it, but it's definitely out there.