First is the fundamental attribution error, which is our tendency to prefer dispositional explanations to situational ones. When we observe an event happening, we are much more likely to attribute it to some intentional, internal motive than to circumstance and happenstance.
Conspiracy theories are by definition dispositional—someone planned this for a purpose. They are thus uniquely satisfying to our minds. Australian philosopher Steve Clarke writes: “As explanations, conspiracy theories are highly dispositional. When conspiracies occur it is because conspirators intend them to occur and act on their intentions … In most cases, the received view, the conventionally accepted nonconspiratorial alternative to a particular conspiracy theory, is a situational explanation.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202004/true-false-believers-the-psychology-conspiracy-theories
Much more is written about the propensity to believe unsubstantiated beliefs, like religions, superstition, the creation of Gods etc....
truly theres a wide range of reasons as much as each person has their own reasons for such beliefs.
we see a range of posts here that demonstrate theres no single profile that fits all. Some here post for political reasons, some through a lack of motivation to do their own research or to use critical thinking faculties (laziness), some merely for virtue signalling to the echo chamber, some merely to be a part of a strong group and some purely for baiting (weird fun).
one interesting thought is the effect of adolescent rebellion against authoritative knowledge, possibly born from learning difficulties. denial of knowledge and absorption of beliefs as replacement for knowledge is common among people with psychosis, at one extreme, to obstinate resistance to authority, eg IPCC or ATAGI. There's even the resistance to being told something contrasted with the preference for believing that one already knows more than science or researchers can explain.
its a fascinating field of study Taurisk.
