From moon landing doubts to wild ideas about shadow governments, COVID-19 lies, and even aliens running the show, conspiracy theories are everywhere. You’ve probably heard some—maybe even shared one yourself. During the pandemic, for example, rumors that vaccines contain microchips or that the virus was a hoax spread like wildfire. These stories didn’t just confuse people—they divided communities, made some refuse vaccines, and even fueled political fights. So why do these theories stick, even when facts say otherwise?
Psychology has some compelling answers, especially when we look at what’s going on inside the mind of the believer.
Previous research suggests that people turn to conspiracy theories for three main reasons: to make sense of confusing events (epistemic need), to feel safe and in control when life feels chaotic (existential need), and to connect with others who share their worldview (social need) (Douglas et al., 2017).
1. The Need for Control and Certainty
A major psychological reason people believe in conspiracy theories is their desire to feel in control. When life feels unpredictable—like during a pandemic or a financial crash—it’s normal to feel anxious and out of control. Many people don’t like uncertainty and want clear answers fast. Conspiracy theories seem to help cope by giving a simple explanation: “Someone is behind it all.” That feels better than accepting that life is random and messy.
For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many believed the virus was lab-made or that vaccines contained tracking chips—not because these claims were true, but because they helped people make sense of uncertainty and regain a sense of control. This need for clear answers relates closely to what psychologists call “need for cognitive closure,” a personality trait that reflects the urge to have definite conclusions and avoid ambiguity. Research shows that people with a higher need for cognitive closure are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories (Marchlewska et al., 2017).
2. The Role of Individual Differences
Not everyone is equally drawn to conspiracy theories. Certain personality traits and ways of thinking make some people more vulnerable.
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People high in attachment anxiety or avoidance—who have lower self-concept clarity and find trusting others hard—often see the world as dangerous and may lean on conspiracy theories to feel safer and regain a sense of control in an otherwise threatening environment. The heightened need to belong among individuals with greater attachment anxiety also predisposes them to endorse conspiracy theories (Kural & Kovacs, 2022; Green & Douglas, 2018).
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Those who like to feel special or unique—the “I know what others don’t” crowd—are more drawn to accept alternative narratives. Conspiracy theories provide the allure of belonging to a special, enlightened minority who “see what others don’t.” People with narcissistic traits often fit here (Cichocka et al., 2022).
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A big factor is epistemic mistrust—the deep suspicion about the reliability of information sources and others’ motives. This often comes from past trauma or feeling excluded, leading people to reject official authorities and stories no matter the evidence (Brauner et al., 2023). During the COVID-19 pandemic, epistemic mistrust played a key role in vaccine skepticism and beliefs that authorities were hiding the “truth.”
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Right-wing authoritarianism (RWA)—involves strong obedience to authority, strict social conformity, and distrust of outsiders. People high in RWA often distrust scientific experts and prefer simple, rigid explanations, making them more prone to conspiracy beliefs (Freeman et al., 2020). Lower scientific reasoning also reduces critical thinking, allowing authoritarian-aligned conspiracies to spread more easily (Lewandowsky et al., 2013).
Additional psychological factors linked to conspiracy beliefs include:
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Low self-esteem and self-uncertainty, which make individuals seek external explanations for internal uncertainty.
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Dark Triad traits (psychopathy, Machiavellianism, narcissism), which promote cynicism, manipulativeness, and distrust, indirectly fostering conspiracy endorsement.
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Collective narcissism, where an inflated and defensive group identity leads to beliefs in plots against one’s in-group, often linked to prejudice.
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Cognitive biases such as intentionality bias (assuming events are caused deliberately by intentional agents), proportionality bias (believing big events have big causes), and confirmation bias (favoring information that confirms pre-existing beliefs).
Conspiracy beliefs can dangerously fuel prejudice and division, often targeting marginalized groups like immigrants with false claims such as the “Great Replacement” theory, which lacks factual support. These theories thrive when people feel their cultural identity is threatened, increasing hostility toward outgroups and backing discriminatory policies. Besides deepening social divides, conspiracy-driven misinformation—like false COVID-19 claims—has caused some to reject vaccines and ignore safety measures, endangering public health.
Final notes
Conspiracy theories fill real psychological needs—they give comfort, identity, and meaning when the world feels scary. People may adopt these beliefs to protect their self-image, build close relationships through shared concerns, and defend the identity of their social group. In this way, conspiracy theories can act as a social glue, uniting those who feel mistrustful of mainstream narratives or connected by shared ideologies.
Helping people feel more secure, teaching critical thinking skills, and building inclusive communities can all help fight the spread of conspiracies. Understanding why people get hooked is the first step to creating a healthier, more trusting society.
References
Brauner, F., Fonagy, P., Campbell, C., Griem, J., Storck, T., & Nolte, T. (2023). “Trust me, do not trust anyone”: how epistemic mistrust and credulity are associated with conspiracy mentality. Research in psychotherapy (Milano), 26(3), 705. https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2023.705
Cichocka, A., Marchlewska, M., & Biddlestone, M. (2022). Why do narcissists find conspiracy theories so appealing?. Current opinion in psychology, 47, 101386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101386
Douglas, K. M., Sutton, R. M., & Cichocka, A. (2017). The psychology of conspiracy theories. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 26(6), 538–542. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417718261
Freeman, D., Waite, F., Rosebrock, L., Petit, A., Causier, C., East, A., … & Lambe, S. (2020). Coronavirus conspiracy beliefs, mistrust, and compliance with government guidelines in England. Psychological Medicine, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720001890
Green, R., & Douglas, K. M. (2018). Anxious attachment and belief in conspiracy theories. Personality and Individual Differences, 125, 30–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.12.023
Kural, A. I., & Kovács, M. (2022). The association between attachment orientations and empathy: The mediation effect of self-concept clarity. Acta psychologica, 229, 103695. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103695
Lewandowsky, S., Gignac, G. E., & Oberauer, K. (2013). The role of conspiracist ideation and worldviews in predicting rejection of science. PLoS ONE, 8(10), e75637. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0075637
Marchlewska, M., Cichocka, A., & Kossowska, M. (2017). Addicted to answers: Need for cognitive closure and the endorsement of conspiracy beliefs. European Journal of Social Psychology, 48(2), 109–117. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2308