Conspiracy theories are theories suggesting that secret groups of influential individuals constantly operate from the shadows, behind the scenes of society, manipulating societal events. These theories often attribute malevolent intentions to these groups, suggesting they seek to harm others or control global occurrences while deliberately hiding the truth from the public.
Some theories cast doubts on the authenticity of significant historical events and commonly accepted truths, such as the 9/11 attacks or the moon landing, while others challenge what is generally accepted as common knowledge. Although not a new phenomenon, the advent of the internet and social networks has greatly increased the exposure and dissemination of conspiracy theories, allowing those with similar beliefs to connect more easily. This has led some to argue that such theories contribute significantly to the current landscape of political and social polarization.
In an era where misinformation and deception can be generated at the click of a button, understanding why people are drawn to conspiracy theories is increasingly important. Many studies have examined the psychological factors that predispose certain individuals to these beliefs.
These include both personal and social reasons, such as the fulfillment of needs for understanding, certainty, control, security, and the desire to maintain a positive self-image or group identity. These factors help explain the broad appeal of conspiracy theories. However, most research in this field is limited to specific points in time or short-term studies, making it challenging to pinpoint the underlying causes and long-term factors that drive individuals to adopt a conspiratorial worldview.
Two factors that can influence the development of a conspiratorial perspective are social frustration and loneliness. Believing in conspiracy theories might help individuals maintain a positive self-image by attributing failures or negative situations to external forces rather than personal shortcomings (e.g., "I am not a failure but a victim of a conspiracy"), or by justifying loneliness (e.g., "I am alone because I have insights that others do not"). Furthermore, limited social support can isolate these individuals, reducing their exposure to diverse worldviews, which might otherwise challenge their conspiratorial beliefs.
Additionally, the lack of social support reduces the exposure of these conspiracy theory supporters to a variety of worldviews different from their own, which could cause them to doubt the conspiratorial perception. Additionally, the desire to alleviate loneliness may drive individuals to join virtual communities that share similar views, thus reinforcing and perpetuating their belief in conspiracy theories.
The link between loneliness and conspiracy theories
A long-term study on the connection between a conspiratorial worldview and loneliness, recently published in Nature Communications (April 2024), collected data on 2,215 Norwegian participants over 28 years. The research, which began in 1992, when the participants were between 12 to 20 years old, continued until 2020, by which time they were in their forties. At several points over the years, participants were asked to complete questionnaires assessing emotional and social loneliness.
One questionnaire measured emotional loneliness with statements such as "No one really knows me well" and "People are around me but not with me," where higher scores indicated greater loneliness. Another questionnaire assessed social loneliness wirh statements such as "I can find a partner when I want one" and "I feel a sense of belonging with the people around me," where low scores indicated greater loneliness.
At the final point in time (2020), participants also completed a Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire, which measures their agreement with statements such as "Many important things happen in the world that the public is not aware of," "Politicians usually do not tell us the true motives for their decisions," "Government agencies closely monitor all citizens," "Events that seem unrelated are often the result of secret activities," and "There are secret organizations that greatly influence political decisions."
The study's findings showed that the lonelier the participants were as teenagers in 1992, the more likely they were to embrace a conspiratorial worldview as adults in 2020. Additionally, the more their sense of loneliness intensified over the years, the more likely they were to report an inclination towards a conspiratorial worldview by 2020. To verify that these findings were not simply the result of mental health issues associated with loneliness, such as depression and anxiety, the researchers incorporated symptoms of these conditions as part of the variables in the analysis. Despite accounting for these factors, the link between loneliness and a propensity towards a conspiratorial worldview remained significant.
What leads to what?
One criticism of the study is that the conspiratorial worldview was assessed only at the final point in time (2020). Since an individual's worldview is often shaped by past experiences, a single measurement may not fully capture the complexity of their beliefs. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic pandemic significantly attracted conspiracy theories, and studies have shown that govermental responses and handling of the pandemic influenced the spread of conspiratorial views in the population.
Without measuring the conspiratorial worldview at the study's outset it’s difficult to ascertain the direction of influence: does loneliness predispose someone to adopt conspiracy theories, or might adopting such theories lead to increased loneliness? It’s also possible that this relationship forms a self-perpetuating cycle, where loneliness fosters belief in conspiracy theories, which in turn leads to further social isolation as such views could deter others from social interactions with individuals holding them.
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A scene from a Turkish video promoting an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory on the purported origin of the coronavirus
(Photo: YouTube)
It is crucial to recognize that this is an observational study, making it challenging to definitively conclude whether an intermediate factor might explain the link between loneliness and a conspiratorial worldview. Personality traits, such as a predisposition towards suspicion or fear of persecution, and life experiences like economic hardship or grief, might both contribute to feelings of loneliness and foster a conspiratorial worldview.
Additionally, the reasons for feelings of loneliness can vary: some individuals may naturally prefer fewer social connections, while others may struggle due to trauma or adverse experiences. Another limitation of the study is that it only included Norwegian participants. Another limitation is that the study only included Norwegian participants, and Norway is characterized by high levels of trust in governmental and social institutions. Further research is needed to assess whether these findings hold true across different cultural and social contexts.
The researchers emphasized that their intention is not to blame lonely individuals for their loneliness, but to find ways to protect them from the negative consequences associated with loneliness. They argue that inequality affects the feeling of loneliness, and therefore suggest that addressing inequality in education, employment as well as social opportunities may not only reduce loneliness but also help combat conspiracy theories.