Paranoid.Delusional.Insane.
Just some of the words that get thrown about when discussing whichever new crazed conspiracy theory has been making the rounds on the internet. I'm sure we've all been the recipients of email letters warning us of the next big threat and how we could raise awareness by forwarding it to at least 20 people within the next 2 hours, a loved one would die. So it should come as no surprise that humans have been indulging in scare tactics for a very long time. and this is the reason why, in my blog,I will be discussing religious conspiracy theories, and what the consequences would be if they were proven to be true.
Now, despite the stereotype that conspiracy theory fanatics are usually a few screws too loose, a surprising number of people have claimed to believe in some sort of conspiracy theory. Research has shown that up to 28% of Americans believe there is a conspiracy amongst the global elite to establish a new world order, a simple YouTube search for conspiracy theories brings up 2,390,000 results, and you only have to bring up certain words such as 9/11, death of Princess Diana, and area 51 to be proven that people are more susceptible to conspiracy theories than you think.
So what exactly makes someone a believer? According to this study published in the journal, Applied Cognitive Psychology, a lack of control is usually a common factor among theorists, along with a fear of the unknown. This makes sense when considering the fact that conspiracy theories usually focus on real life events and provide an answers, especially when none can be given by authorities, or that which is given is interpreted as a lie. Extreme conspiracy theorists can also be driven by mental health issues, leading to paranoia which in turn leads to finding the 'hidden truth' in conspiracy theories.
