Conspiracy theories widespread are, for example, that the COVID-19 be one control tool of the population, which themoon landing it never happened, that the Earth is flator that there are dark plans to control the world by the Illuminati or of Elders of Zionand so on. That is, it is about alternative and conspiracy narratives compared to official and scientifically proven theories. But why do conspiracy theories arise and why does this type of phenomenon exist? The most recent studies in sociology, neurology and psychology actually warn us that we should not label conspiracy theorists as “sick” or “criminals”, because this label has the opposite effect on them, increasing their polarization.
How Conspiracy Theories Are Born
Conspiracy theories are a phenomenon of deviance (that is, they move away from what is considered “normal” and accepted), challenging official narratives and common beliefs.
This attitude takes hold because in our societies there exist rules of all kinds (both actual laws and social customs), each of which protects, benefits or serves the interests of specific groups of people rather than others. Some members of these other groups end up feeling excluded from the system and therefore “losers” compared to the real or presumed “elites” of society. The resulting consequence is often a profound distrust towards the system which can even lead to thehatred towards him. This is how conspiracy theories are gaining ground, first individually and then collectively, which believe that a real floor of the elite to maintain power or certain confidential information, to the detriment of the masses or specific categories of people.
Conspiracy theories are based on three assumptions which, consciously or unconsciously, the people who support them believe:
- Nothing happens by chance
- Nothing is as it seems
- Everything is connected
The general characteristics of “outside the norm” and conspiracy narratives are the following:
- The existence of a secret plan elaborated by the conspirators
- They share some fundamental traits with sectarian environments: the presence of charismatic figure of the prophet; the political-religious project of utopian renewal of society; the the fight between good and evil; the claim of universality and absolute truthfulness
- A stable and coherent vision of the world: in the face of traumatic, unpredictable, destabilizing events, “conspiracy theorists” develop a new meaning to what is happening (the premature death of a loved one, a catastrophe, or an epidemic). It is common for conspiracy theories to thrive during periods of uncertainty and disorientationwhen the old worldview collapses
The Psychosocial Characteristics of Conspiracy Theorists
From what emerges from the studies of KM Douglas and the CREST (Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats), the conspiracy theorists:
- they are placed at margins of societythey are the “losers” of globalization, those who have no way of escaping their disadvantaged situation and attribute the responsibility to public institutions or to certain power groups;
- they try to satisfy socialization needs: people who believe in conspiracies are labelled and seek out other similar outcasts to support them, fuelling their own echo chamber;
- are supported by a vision of the “us” versus “them”representing a particularly useful tool for populism which believes that society is separated into two homogeneous and antagonistic groups: “the pure people” versus “the corrupt elite”.
The theoretician conspiracy theorist (or conspiracy theoristas he is often called) sees himself as a hero who unmasks evil conspirators, re-establishing proper responsibilities with respect to the past and/or opening the way to stop ongoing conspiracies.
Linking conspiracy beliefs to forms of mental pathology (for example paranoia) is nothing but a labeling discriminatory. Since 1999, several studies have shown us that conspiracy theorists they do not have a lower “intellectual level”and that in many ways, conspiracy theories are more complex than their alternative (i.e. scientifically proven theories).
Some Conspiracy and Plot Theories Throughout History
Conspiracy theories have ancient roots, in fact we cannot say that only today we live in an era of conspiracy. Among the most well-known examples we find:
- The Fire of Rome and Nero: in 64 AD, a vast fire devastated Rome and the emperor Nero was accused of having orchestrated the fire so he could rebuild the city according to his plans and blaming the Christians, whom he persecuted
- The Illuminati: This theory suggested that the French Revolution was orchestrated by a secret society, the Illuminati, who sought to destabilize the European monarchies and establish a new world order based on the principles of the Enlightenment. It is still believed to exist today and to manipulate global events to establish a new world order.
- The Protocol of the Elders of Zion: This is an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, born in the early 20th century. It claims that the Jews have a secret plan to dominate the world. The “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” is at the center of this theory and is said to be a (falsified) document first published in Russia in 1903, where the detailed plan for global control is presented. This is certainly the conspiracy theory that has had the most dramatic impact in history, but fortunately not all conspiracy theories justify criminal projects.
The most famous conspiracy theories
Then there are some conspiracy theories that are still very widespread. Here are some examples:
- 9/11 Conspiracy Theory: This theory proposes that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States were planned by the American administration to legitimize military operations in the Middle East and increase national security measures. Supporters of this theory point to alleged oddities in the collapse of the Twin Towers and Building 7 of the World Trade Center, as well as discrepancies in the official versions.
- Conspiracy Theory About John F. Kennedy’s Death: This theory claims that the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy in 1963 was not carried out by a single person, Lee Harvey Oswald, as officially claimed, but was the result of a conspiracy involving several government agencies, the Mafia or other organizations. Supporters point to discrepancies in ballistic evidence and testimonies collected.
- Flat Earth Theory: This theory rejects the idea that the Earth is spherical, arguing instead that it is flat and that this truth is hidden by a global conspiracy involving governments and scientific institutions. Proponents dispute photographic and video evidence from space, claiming that it is manipulated or the result of deception, and present alternative models for geography and astronomy.
- Moon Landing Conspiracy Theory: This theory holds that the Apollo moon landings, which began in 1969 with Apollo 11, were a hoax organized by NASA in cooperation with the United States government. Proponents point to anomalies in contemporary photographs and films: inconsistent shadows and a lack of stars in the sky that suggest a movie set on Earth.
