The Pros And Cons Of Conspiracy Theories

For some individuals, believing in conspiracy theories may be a form of emotional safety. For instance, a more commonly accepted understanding of an event may cause fear, even debilitating fear, for one person. Thus, in this circumstance, believing in an alternative explanation, a conspiracy, may provide the individual with a feeling of safety allowing them to move forward without having to be afraid of the more widely accepted explanation. This view of conspiracy theories evokes an image of an insecure and alienated individual who is desperately clutching at straws to make sense of the bewildering, uncontrollable world by believing in these theories (Imhoff, 2017). For many individuals believing in certain theories makes life more bearable, as if theories could answer why bad things happen to good people, or unnecessary tragic disasters. One particular example that is a reaction to fear is the need to fill the unknown. For instance, believing in the presence Big Brother. The fear is not that Big Brother is watching us, but that Big Brother doesn’t really care about us at all; the fear that no one is in control. It is a very similar idea to someone saying “Everyone doesn’t hate you - there are millions of people who don’t care one way or another (Jane, 2014). This

This may come in the fromm of shame from an outside community, or further isolation of the unknown. This external response will have a negative effect on an individual’s happiness, more than the given happiness of believing a theory. Given that there are two negatives that could be obtained, it would seem the better option to not choose either of them. There would be no utility to be gained in believing a theory, thus it would be safer for the individuals to avoid believing in incorrect theories, that could lead to shame or further