Reading this reminded me of social identity theory which helps to understand why individuals might persist in false beliefs if doing so means they remain part o

Reading this reminded me of social identity theory which helps to understand why individuals might persist in false beliefs if doing so means they remain part of an in-group they perceive as more favourable than some undesirable “out-group” they compare themselves to. Whatever the case, while it may be so that people who are less critical thinkers may be more prone to believing in conspiracies it seems there is a real social element to conspiracies. Probably if you want to help someone to see the light through their conspiracy beliefs, you would have to do more than provide “evidence” to the contrary, but rather look to address the underlying need for social connection and maybe even security within relationships.