Conspiracy Theories: Evolved Functions and Psychological Mechanisms

Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science
Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Mark van Vugt

Abstract

Belief in conspiracy theories-such as that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were an inside job or that the pharmaceutical industry deliberately spreads diseases-is a widespread and culturally universal phenomenon. Why do so many people around the globe believe conspiracy theories, and why are they so influential? Previous research focused on the proximate mechanisms underlying conspiracy beliefs but ignored the distal, evolutionary origins and functions. We review evidence pertaining to two competing evolutionary hypotheses: (a) conspiracy beliefs are a by-product of a suite of psychological mechanisms (e.g., pattern recognition, agency detection, threat management, alliance detection) that evolved for different reasons, or (b) conspiracy beliefs are part of an evolved psychological mechanism specifically aimed at detecting dangerous coalitions. This latter perspective assumes that conspiracy theories are activated after specific coalition cues, which produce functional counterstrategies to cope with suspected conspiracies. Insights from social, cultural and evolutionary psychology provide tentative support for six propositions that follow from the adaptation hypothesis. We propose that people possess a functionally integrated mental...Continue Reading

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Citations

Mar 8, 2019·The British Journal of Social Psychology·Kyriaki Fousiani, Jan-Willem van Prooijen
Aug 14, 2020·British Journal of Psychology·Jan-Willem van Prooijen, Mengdi Song
Jul 12, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Malik SallamAzmi Mahafzah
Mar 20, 2019·Nature Human Behaviour·Nichola J Raihani, Vaughan Bell
Jan 23, 2021·International Journal of Clinical Practice·Richard A SteinRobert Brotherton
Nov 19, 2020·Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health·Martin Brüne, Daniel R Wilson
Oct 24, 2020·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Benjamin M SeitzMartie G Haselton
Mar 9, 2021·The International Journal on Drug Policy·Mandy SadanSeng Lawn Dan
Apr 10, 2021·Journal of Medical Internet Research·Ken ResnicowLawrence An
Apr 15, 2021·Australasian Psychiatry : Bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists·Vladan Starcevic, Vlasios Brakoulias
Jul 24, 2021·Current Opinion in Psychology·Jan-Willem van ProoijenHaiyan Wang
Jul 15, 2021·British Journal of Psychology·Jan-Willem van ProoijenYang Xu
Aug 4, 2021·The Journal of Social Psychology·Ali MashuriSelviana Selviana
Aug 8, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Pedro M Valero-MoraMireia Faus
Aug 17, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Marie-Jeanne Leonard, Frederick L Philippe
Dec 4, 2021·Journal of Community Health·Corey H BaschNasia Quinones
Dec 19, 2021·British Journal of Psychology·Karen M DouglasRobbie M Sutton

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