Why Do People Believe in Conspiracy Theories?

The Appeal of Misinformation: According to Science

In our age of information, knowledge is more accessible than it has ever been in human history. But not all sources keep to the same veracity. To the skeptic, it may seem easy to discern between truth and fiction, but anyone can be mislead. Too often we find loved ones, friends, and perhaps even ourselves believing false information, stubbornly holding fast to claims that seem beyond reason.

But why are we so profoundly susceptible to believing falsehoods? To understand the answer, I dove into the world of science. Here’s what I discovered:

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Glitching Wetware

To understand the origins of conspiracy theories, I turned to biology for answers.

It turns out that our bodies are simply imperfect. If you’ve ever torn your ACL, had hiccups, or had a bad back, you’re already familiar with this concept. ACL tears happen because their design doesn’t work well for the strain we need to put on them. Hiccups occur when your nervous system accidentally bothers your diaphragm. Back pain is one…