Why Do People Believe In Conspiracy Theories?
A conspiracy theory is the belief that some covert but influential organization is responsible for a circumstance or event. Many people are attracted to conspiracy theories because they provide alternate explanations which sometimes seem more plausible.
Because our human nature is to question and search for answers and meaning, some people enjoy conspiracy theories because they provide us with an alternative vantage point; it provides us with excitement about an event whose truth is questionable from the beginning. Many conspiracy theories are also easily believable; the information presented often makes sense.
But you have to be careful when reading about or watching a video of a conspiracy theory. Always approach them with an open mind but do not allow yourself to be sucked in their vortex; it becomes very hard to step back out once your mind has been captured.
A side effect of too much conspiracy theories is the development of paranoia or even psychosis. Depending on the nature of the conspiracy theory, you may start to believe that “something or someone” is after you; the same “something or someone” who is responsible for the deaths of presidential figures and celebrities.
Connecting too many dots where they were never intended to be connected can also contribute to the development of brief psychotic disorder. You may start to lose touch with reality and believe bizarre scenarios or become disorganized in your thoughts and speech; it is no guarantee that your brief psychotic disorder will not progress to schizophreniform.
On the flip side, conspiracy theories may be a good thing for some:
- They help you develop an open mind and prevent mental rigidity
- They help you analyze information
- They help you consider both sides to a story
- They help you form your own opinion without always believing the main story
- They help you to think outside of the box
Do not let others convince you that conspiracy theories are good or bad; you must try them out for yourself and form your own opinion. For some people, conspiracy theories promote the loss of their sanity, while for others, they provide a mild euphoric rush accompanied by useful tidbits of information.
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