Conspiracy theories

Not All Conspiracy Theories Are Alike. Here’s How They’re Structured.

A fascinating study by Ghasemizade & Onaolapo (2024) offers a hierarchical “tree” model to categorize over 120 conspiracy theories (CTs) based on themes, structure, and interconnected narratives.

🔍 The model identifies 8 major branches of conspiracy theory families:

✈️ Aviation – e.g., chemtrails, aircraft disappearance mysteries

💼 Economics, Business, & Society – e.g., New World Order, corporate manipulation

✝️ Race & Religion – e.g., antisemitic or anti-religion conspiracies

🏛️ Government & Politics – e.g., QAnon, political assassinations, “deep state”

💊 Medical (Big Pharma) – e.g., vaccine conspiracies, microchip fears

🔬 Science & Technology – e.g., climate change denial, flat Earth

🌌 Outer Space – e.g., moon landing hoax, alien cover-ups

⚽ Sports – e.g., match-fixing, famous athlete incidents (like Ronaldo 1998)

🌱 Think of these as branches, with individual theories as leaves. Some theories overlap and build on one another, creating “super conspiracies”—vast webs of belief with global reach.

This model helps map the ecosystem of conspiracy thinking, giving researchers, educators, and public health leaders better tools to understand and address these narratives.

Conspiracy theories aren’t random—they’re structured, networked, and ever-evolving. Understanding their typologies is the first step to countering their influence.

#ConspiracyTheories #DigitalLiteracy #InformationDisorder #PublicUnderstanding #Misinformation #Trust #HealthCommunication #SocialScience #AIforSocialGood #Ghasemizade2024

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It’s easy to dismiss conspiracy theories as irrational—but research shows they often fulfill deep cognitive, emotional, and social needs.

Belief in conspiracy theories is shaped by three core psychological motives:

🔹 Epistemic motives (the need for understanding)

– When facts are missing or confusing, people seek meaning.
– Those who prefer clear, intentional explanations are more prone to conspiratorial thinking.

🔹 Existential motives (the need for safety and control)

– Feelings of powerlessness, anxiety, or uncertainty—especially in times of crisis—can make conspiracy theories appealing.

🔹 Social motives (the need for identity and belonging)

– Beliefs can help people feel unique or morally superior.
– They may also defend a group identity when people feel socially excluded or under threat.

📚  A more detailed classification of antecedents behind conspiratorial thinking is:

1. Cognitive (e.g., intuitive thinking, pattern perception)
2. Motivational (e.g., uncertainty avoidance, control needs)
3. Personality (e.g., collective narcissism, low self-esteem)
4. Psychopathology (e.g., Dark Triad traits, paranoia)
5. Political (e.g., ideological extremism, populism)
6. Sociocultural (e.g., collectivism, distrust in institutions)

🔁 Conspiracy theories are also socially contagious. They are shared to challenge power, build community, or cope with fear—but sharing can lead to division, stigma, and exclusion.

#ConspiracyBeliefs #CognitivePsychology #PublicHealth #SocialPsychology #Trust #HealthCommunication #DouglasAndSutton #PilchEtAl2023 #BehavioralScience #NarrativePsychology

Sources:

Douglas, K. M. & Sutton, R. M. (2023). What are conspiracy theories? A definitional approach to their correlates, consequences, and communication. Annual Review of Psychology, 7(1), 271-298. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-032420-031329

Conspiracy theories aren’t just fringe ideas or political noise. They follow a pattern:

🔹 They oppose mainstream explanations of events

🔹 They assign blame to individuals or groups—not systems

🔹 They describe malevolent or hidden intentions

🔹 They’re epistemically risky—not necessarily false, but more prone to error

🔹 They are shared social constructs, not just private beliefs

Conspiracy theories don’t just explain the world—they can reshape it, often creating new, alternative realities that feel emotionally or morally compelling.

In public health, education, and social discourse, this matters. Why? Because these theories can:

• Undermine trust
• Polarize relationships
• Hinder collective action
• Create deep fractures in families, communities, and institutions

💡 Addressing conspiracy beliefs requires more than fact-checking. It means understanding their emotional, social, and cognitive roots—and engaging with empathy and curiosity, not just correction.

#ConspiracyBeliefs #Misinformation #SocialPsychology #CognitiveBias #Trust #HealthCommunication #Epistemology #BeliefSystems #NarrativePower

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Conspiracy theories don’t emerge in isolation.

They thrive in environments marked by division, distrust, and ideological rigidity. Recent research across political psychology and behavioral science highlights how political polarization both fuels and is fueled by conspiracy thinking.

🔹 1. Extremism and Ideological Rigidity

People at the far ends of the political spectrum are more likely to adopt conspiratorial worldviews. They see the world in black-and-white terms, distrust authority, and gravitate toward simple explanations for complex problems.

🔹 2. Populism and Distrust in Elites

A “conspiracy mindset” is often rooted in populist sentiment—distrust in political elites, media, and institutions. This mindset is particularly common among those who feel politically alienated or powerless.

🔹 3. Partisanship and Selective Mistrust

Conspiracy beliefs often mirror partisan divisions. In the U.S., for example, right-leaning individuals were significantly more likely to believe in COVID-19 misinformation and reject vaccines.

🔹 4. Radical Overconfidence

Radicalized groups don’t just hold strong beliefs—they’re overconfident in their group’s moral and factual superiority, making them more resistant to correction or dialogue.

🔹 5. Emotional Drivers and Online Echo Chambers

Fear, anger, and nostalgia amplify conspiracy beliefs. Online environments exploit these emotions, creating echo chambers that intensify both polarization and disinformation spread.

🔹 6. Social Signaling and Group Identity

Believing in conspiracy theories can signal loyalty to a group, especially when people feel socially or politically threatened. These beliefs aren’t just explanations—they’re acts of belonging.

🧭 What This Means for Us:

Fighting conspiracy beliefs requires more than fact-checking. It demands that we understand the emotional, social, and identity-based roots of belief. To rebuild democratic trust, we must bridge ideological divides, foster critical thinking, and rebuild shared spaces for dialogue.

#ConspiracyBeliefs #PoliticalPolarization #Trust #Disinformation #GroupIdentity #EchoChambers #Misinformation #BehavioralScience #DigitalCulture #SocialPsychology #DemocraticResilience

Sources:

Almagro, M. (2023). Political polarization: Radicalism and immune beliefs. Philosophy & social criticism, 49(3), 309-331. https://doi.org/10.1177/01914537211066859

Many scholars, journalists, and citizens assume we are living in a “golden age” of conspiracy theories, driven by social media and a post-truth culture. But groundbreaking research by Uscinski et al. (2022) challenges this narrative.

📊 Across four major studies, spanning the U.S. and Europe and examining beliefs over decades, the researchers found:

✅ No systematic increase in conspiracy theory beliefs

✅ Some conspiracy beliefs actually decreasing over time

✅ Stable levels of general conspiracy thinking, despite popular claims

This study invites us to rethink alarmist assumptions and focus on understanding why conspiracy theories are a persistent feature of society, not just a modern surge.

#ConspiracyTheories #DigitalCulture #SocialMedia #BeliefSystems #PublicOpinion #CriticalThinking #Misinformation #UscinskiStudy

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A Quick Guide to the Leading Tools

Understanding conspiracy beliefs requires more than asking if someone believes in aliens or moon hoaxes. It demands rigorous, validated tools. Here’s how researchers are doing it:

🧩 1. Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCB)

Developed to address the limits of event-specific questionnaires, the GCB measures general conspiracist ideation across five dimensions (e.g., government malfeasance, malevolent global conspiracies). It’s psychometrically robust and widely used in psychological research.

🧠 2. Conspiracy Mentality Questionnaire (CMQ)

Designed for cross-cultural use, the CMQ assesses an individual’s general tendency to view the world through a conspiratorial lens. It has strong reliability across cultures and avoids referencing specific events.

📊 3. Measurement Critique and Strategy

These authors emphasize that question wording matters: measuring belief in partisan conspiracy theories may reflect political identity more than genuine conspiratorial thinking. They advocate for non-partisan or general items to reduce bias.

👥 4. Adolescent Conspiracy Beliefs Questionnaire (ACBQ)

Recognizing the developmental differences in belief formation, this tool was crafted for younger populations. It’s simpler, age-appropriate, and validated for use in research on adolescents.

⚡ 5. Single-Item Conspiracy Belief Scale

Need a quick screener? This validated single-item scale captures general conspiracist tendencies in one concise question—ideal for large-scale or time-sensitive surveys.

🧭 6. Conspiracy Mentality Scale (CMS)

This scale uniquely distinguishes between irrational conspiracy thinking and rational skepticism, recognizing that not all suspicion is unfounded.

📌 Whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, or health communicator, choosing the right tool matters. Poor measurement can distort findings. Let’s move beyond buzzwords and start measuring what truly matters.

#ConspiracyBeliefs #SocialPsychology #BehavioralScience #ResearchMethods #Misinformation #MeasurementTools #Brotherton #Bruder #Enders #Jolley #Lantian #Stojanov #Psychometrics

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As conspiracy beliefs continue to shape public discourse and online behavior, researchers face a critical question:

📚 Where do we go from here?

Based on a comprehensive literature review here are key gaps and urgent research directions for scholars and practitioners:

🧠 1. Clarify what we’re studying:

Most studies lack a clear definition of conspiracy theories or fail to distinguish them from misinformation or disinformation. A shared conceptual foundation is needed to strengthen the field.

🌐 2. Move beyond Facebook and Twitter:

Over 80% of studies focus on just a few “mainstream” platforms. We need research on lesser-studied “dark platforms” like Gab, 8kun, or private messengers where conspiracy communities thrive.

🌍 3. Decenter the West:

Most studies focus on English-speaking, Western countries. Research must include non-Western contexts to understand how conspiracy beliefs operate globally.

🧩 4. Explore how conspiracies cluster:

People often believe multiple conspiracy theories at once. Studying how these beliefs interact can help us design better interventions.

📈 5. Expand methods & theories:

There’s an overreliance on content analysis and surveys. We need more ethnographic, experimental, and longitudinal studies, with strong theoretical grounding.

🤝 6. Interdisciplinary collaboration is key:

Conspiracy theories touch psychology, sociology, communication, political science, and computer science. Deeper collaboration can produce more holistic solutions.

#ConspiracyBeliefs #MisinformationResearch #FutureOfResearch #DigitalSociety #GlobalPerspectives #OnlineCommunities #SocialMediaResearch #CriticalThinking #InterdisciplinaryResearch #KnowledgeGaps

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False information is not a new phenomenon, but its impact today is greater than ever. To respond effectively, we need to be clear about the different forms it takes.

📖 Clear definitions matter:

🔹False Information → A catch-all term that includes misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories.

🔹Misinformation → False or misleading information that is shared without the intent to deceive.

🔹Disinformation → False information deliberately created and spread to deceive or manipulate.

🔹Conspiracy Theories → Narratives that suggest powerful groups secretly manipulate events behind the scenes, often blaming minorities or institutions.

📊 What research shows:

🌐 False information fuelsecho chambers, where extremist or polarized views go unchallenged.

🧨 Extremist groups spread disinformation and conspiracy theories to gain visibility and influence.

👥 Minority groups are often scapegoated, increasing hate crimes and discrimination.

🧠 Exposure to conspiracy theories reduces trust in institutions and compliance with public health or civic measures.

💡 What can we do?

✅ Promote education and critical literacy so people can assess sources.

✅ Use counterspeech—fact-based narratives that directly challenge harmful claims.

✅ Demand accountability from tech platforms that allow harmful content to spread.

✅ Build societal resilience through dialogue, inclusion, and civic participation.

👉 Tackling false information isn’t about silencing voices—it’s about strengthening trust, fostering open dialogue, and protecting communities from harm.

#Misinformation #Disinformation #ConspiracyTheories #FalseInformation #CriticalThinking #MediaLiteracy #PublicHealth #Trust #Education #HatePrevention

Sources:

Cox, K., Ogden, T., Jordan, V. & Paille, P. (2021). COVID-19, Disinformation and Hateful Extremism.Cambridge, UK. RAND Europe. https://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP68674.html

Vraga, E. K. & Bode, L. (2020). Defining misinformation and understanding its bounded nature: Using expertise and evidence for describing misinformation. Political Communication, 37(1), 136-144.

A new article highlights why we need to carefully distinguish these two concepts. They may sound similar, but they are not the same:

🔹 Conspiracy Mentality

• A general attitude of suspicion: the belief that powerful groups secretly manipulate world events.
• Measured through abstract statements (e.g.,“Politicians often hide their true motives”).
• Functions as alatent mindset—a broad disposition toward distrust.
• Can exist even without endorsing specific conspiracy theories.

🔹 Belief in Conspiracy Theories

• The endorsement of specific narratives (e.g., “The moon landing was faked”).
• Observable and measurable through scales that list actual theories.
• Involves commitment toepistemically risky claims that oppose widely accepted knowledge.
• Tends to have moresocial and psychological consequences (e.g., polarization, stigmatization).

📌 Key takeaway:

While conspiracy mentality reflects a generalized distrust, belief in conspiracy theories is about specific claims. Keeping them separate helps researchers understand how suspicion can fuel democratic vigilance without automatically leading to harmful conspiracy beliefs.

🧩 Researchers also note that the relationship between mentality and specific beliefs is not one-way. The mentality may feed into belief, but belief can also strengthen mentality, creating a cycle of distrust. This means we cannot reduce conspiracy thinking to a single cause—its roots are multiple, complex, and often bidirectional.

📊 By running measures of both concepts together, scholars can separate the social and political value of healthy suspicion (holding leaders accountable) from the risks of endorsing false and harmful narratives. This distinction allows us to see how some distrust may actually support democratic processes, while unchecked conspiratorial beliefs can undermine them.

#ConspiracyTheories #ConspiracyMentality #Misinformation #Psychology #Trust #CriticalThinking #Research #SocialPsychology #BeliefSystems

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Conspiracy theories often get dismissed as nothing more than misinformation or products of political polarization. But as Joseph Uscinski points out, they are much more complicated—and sometimes, necessary—for democracy.

🔍 How the study of conspiracy theories has evolved?

📚 Past focus: Historians and cultural critics studied conspiracies in context (e.g., Hofstadter’s Paranoid Style).

🧠 Current focus: Psychologists and political scientists now examine why individuals believe in conspiracies and how these beliefs shape behavior.

🧩 Key finding: People can hold contradictory conspiracies (e.g., believing bin Laden was dead and alive), showing that belief often stems from distrust in authority, not logic.

⚖️ Why they are not just misinformation?

🛡️ Conspiracy theories are about power—who has it, how it’s used, and whether it’s abused.

📢 They provide a form of dissent for weaker groups against stronger ones, especially when official institutions fail.

🔔 They function as alarm systems, alerting society to corruption or abuse—even if many alarms are false.

🕵️ They sometimes uncover truth: think Watergate, or the role of conspiracy suspicion in exposing political scandals.

⚠️ The double-edged sword of new research

🧪 Efforts to correct conspiracy beliefs often backfire, making people double down.

🏛️ Debunking strategies could give powerful actors tools to suppress opposition, not just falsehoods.

🤔 Because conspiracy theories are non-falsifiable, branding them “wrong” misses their democratic role.

Takeaway

🌍 Conspiracy theories are more than baseless rumors or partisan talking points. They are a way for citizens—especially the marginalized—to challenge power and demand accountability.

The task for researchers and policymakers is delicate: reduce the harm of dangerous conspiracy beliefs without silencing their role as democratic watchdogs.

#ConspiracyTheories #Misinformation #PublicOpinion #PoliticalScience #Democracy #PowerAndDissent #SocialResearch #CriticalThinking #MediaStudies #Polarization

Sources:

Uscinski, J. E. (2018). The Study of Conspiracy Theories. Argumenta, 3(2), 233-245. https://doi.org/10.23811/53.arg2017.usc 

✨ Beyond the usual two categories

When we talk about conspiracies, we usually think in black and white:

✅ Real conspiracies: Proven cases of secret plots, later confirmed with evidence (for example, the Watergate scandal).

❌ Conspiracy theories: Speculative or unfounded claims that powerful groups are behind major events (e.g., “the moon landing was faked” or “vaccines contain microchips”).

⚖️ But there’s a third category we often miss: Protective Conspiracy Framing

This happens when people (including academics or policymakers) dismiss an idea too quickly by calling it a “conspiracy theory.”

📌 It’s like a false alarm in reverse (a Type 2 error): instead of believing too much, we reject too fast — before testing the evidence.

📌 This tendency can silence uncomfortable but legitimate questions (e.g., debates about the origins of COVID-19).

📌 The danger is that it discourages open debate, stigmatizes those who question dominant narratives, and narrows the space for scientific inquiry.

👉 In short:

While fighting misinformation is vital, we must also guard against overusing the “conspiracy” label, which can itself become a barrier to truth-seeking.

#ConspiracyTheories #CriticalThinking #ScientificOpenness #Misinformation #Democracy #PublicTrust #DebateCulture #EpistemicHumility #ProtectingScience #OpenInquiry

Sources:

Vermeulen, N. (2025). Seeing conspiracy theorists everywhere as a conspiracy paradox. Communications Psychology, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-025-00298-3

Check before sharing

🕵️‍♀️ Before you hit share, take this quick test:

Not everything online is what it seems — some posts are conspiracy theories disguised as truth. Use this simple checklist to spot red flags and protect yourself (and others) from misinformation.

🔎 1. Who is the author?

📡 2. What’s the source?

🗣️ 3. Tone and style – How is it written?

✨ Quick rule of thumb:

If it feels sensational, overly certain, and hostile — pause before sharing.

How to Use This Table?

Use this table to evaluate whether a piece of information—such as a news article, video, blog post, or podcast—is likely to be a conspiracy theory or not. Carefully read, watch, or listen to the content you want to assess.

For each criterion, assign:

0 points if the characteristic fits the “Unlikely a conspiracy theory” column, or

1 point if it fits the “Likely a conspiracy theory” column.

Then, add up all the points.

• If the total score is 0, the content is very unlikely to be a conspiracy theory.
• If the total score is between 1 and 10, you should pay attention, because the higher the score, the more likely it is to be a conspiracy theory.

Download this table

#ConspiracyTheory #Misinformation #FactChecking #CriticalThinking #MediaLiteracy #DigitalSafety #StopDisinformation #ThinkBeforeYouShare #TrustScience #VerifyBeforeSharing

Sources:

https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/coronavirus-response/fighting-disinformation/identifying-conspiracy-theories_en

Conspiracy believers are often portrayed as isolated outsiders, sitting alone behind keyboards.

But new research challenges this stereotype. Ethnographic evidence shows that belief in conspiracy theories is deeply social, unfolding through what the authors call “resonant awakenings.”

🔹 Emotional connection

Believers often begin their journey when institutions fail them — moments of anger, shock, or distrust that spark a search for alternative answers.

🔹 Intellectual connection

Conspiracy theories gain power in groups. Shared videos, discussions, and collective interpretations give people the sense of seeing the world with new eyes.

🔹 Activist connection

Over time, believers move from conversation to action: creating content, joining protests, and participating in movements that challenge governments, science, and social institutions.

✨ Conspiracy believers are not simply irrational loners.

They are part of thriving, supportive communities where emotions, knowledge, and activism intersect to create lasting commitment.

#ConspiracyBeliefs #SocialMovements #CollectiveIdentity #Sociology #Misinformation #CriticalThinking #Resonance #CommunityDynamics

Sources:

📖 Hill, T., Murphy, S., & Canniford, R. (2025). Resonant Awakenings: The Social Lives of Conspiracy Theorists. Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1177/00380385251344483

Research shows that conspiracy beliefs (CBs) can affect individuals, communities, and society in multiple harmful ways. Here are the main categories:

🧠 Individual & Psychological

Increased fear, distress, and anxiety

Lower wellbeing and life satisfaction

Reduced job satisfaction and impaired job-seeking behavior

🌐 Social & Relational

Erosion of social cohesion and trust

Growth of anti-science attitudes and climate skepticism

Lower prosocial orientation and resistance to humanitarian aid

Stigma around health behaviors (e.g., HIV testing)

🏛 Political

Decline in conventional political participation (e.g., voting)

Rise in support for protests, illegal demonstrations, or even violence

Influence on referendum and election outcomes (e.g., Brexit, Trump)

Increased justification for unconventional or extremist actions

🩺 Health-Related

Lower health-seeking intentions and vaccine hesitancy

Resistance to protective measures during COVID-19

Spread of attitudes harmful to public health (mask refusal, distrust in medical advice)

⚠️ Overall Impact

Conspiracy beliefs magnify social division, weaken institutional trust, and endanger both public health and democratic stability.

#ConspiracyBeliefs #Misinformation #PublicHealth #DemocracyAtRisk #SocialTrust #MentalHealthImpact #PoliticalExtremism #VaccineHesitancy #Disinformation #ResearchMatters

Sources:

Pilch, I., Turska-Kawa, A., Wardawy, P., Olszanecka-Marmola, A. & Smołkowska-Jędo, W. (2023). Contemporary trends in psychological research on conspiracy beliefs. A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1075779

🔎 The Hidden Costs of Conspiracy Beliefs

Conspiracy theories are not “just ideas.” Research shows they have measurable consequences on our health, relationships, and societies. Here are some key findings:

✨ Mental Health Impacts

📌 Linked to higher levels of anxiety and distress, especially during COVID-19 .

📌 Associated with negative emotions and social isolation .

📌 Predictors of lower life satisfaction and job satisfaction, particularly among healthcare workers .

✨ Public Health Risks

📌 Greater endorsement of conspiracy theories correlated with less adherence to health guidelines (e.g., mask-wearing, distancing, vaccination) .

📌 Lower willingness to accept diagnostic tests or future medical treatments .

✨ Social & Cultural Effects

📌 Undermines trust in institutions and scientific experts .

📌 Fuels intergroup conflict, especially when people perceive outgroups as threatening .

📌 Among students, belief in conspiracy explanations reduced overall psychological well-being during isolation .

🔍 Takeaway:

Conspiracy beliefs may seem like personal opinions, but they ripple into anxiety, reduced well-being, weaker public health compliance, and deeper social divides. Understanding these impacts is essential if we want to foster resilience and rebuild trust.

#ConspiracyTheories #Misinformation #MentalHealth #PublicHealth #Anxiety #SocialTrust #HealthEquity #CriticalThinking #DigitalSociety #WellBeing

Sources:

Chen, X., Zhang, S. X., Jahanshahi, A. A., Alvarez-Risco, A., Dai, H., Li, J. & Ibarra, V. G. (2020). Belief in a COVID-19 Conspiracy Theory as a Predictor of Mental Health and Well-Being of Health Care Workers in Ecuador: Cross-Sectional Survey Study. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance, 6(3), e20737. https://doi.org/10.2196/20737

Freeman, D. & Bentall, R. P. (2017). The concomitants of conspiracy concerns. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52(5), 595-604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1354-4

Leibovitz, T., Shamblaw, A. L., Rumas, R. & Best, M. W. (2021). COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs: Relations with anxiety, quality of life, and schemas. Personality and individual differences., 175, 110704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.110704

Spasovski, O. & Kenig, N. (2020). Psychological well-being in students during self-isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Primenjena psihologija, 13(4), 427-447. https://doi.org/10.19090/pp.20.4.427-447

Van Prooijen, J. W. & Song, M. (2021). The cultural dimension of intergroup conspiracy theories. British Journal of Psychology, 112(2), 455-473. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12471

💔 A qualitative study examines how conspiracy beliefs shape romantic relationships by listening directly to the experiences of partners who lived through them.

🔬 What the researchers did

🗣️ Conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with partners and ex-partners of people who strongly believed in conspiracy theories
📋 Focused on romantic relationships, including long-term partnerships, marriages, and co-parenting situations
🧠 Used thematic qualitative analysis to identify recurring patterns across participants’ narratives

📊 Main findings

⚠️ Persistent relational strain
• Escalating conflict and breakdowns in communication
• Repeated but unsuccessful attempts to reason or avoid confrontation

🕯️ Emotional disconnection and loss
• Partners described feeling they had “lost” the person they once knew
• A sense of ongoing grief within the relationship

🧠 Psychological and physical consequences
• Anxiety, stress, exhaustion, and self-doubt among non-believing partners
• Emotional overload from constant exposure to conspiracy content

👨‍👩‍👧 Challenges around health and parenting
• Disputes over medical care, vaccination, and child safety
• Increased protective responsibilities for one partner

🧭 Analysis and conclusions

🔍 The analysis shows that conspiracy beliefs can gradually erode trust, shared reality, and emotional safety in romantic relationships.
📉 Over time, many relationships deteriorated or ended, while others continued under significant emotional or practical constraints.

📌 The study concludes that conspiracy beliefs are not only cognitive or political positions — they are relational forces with real consequences for intimacy, wellbeing, and family life.

#ConspiracyBeliefs #RomanticRelationships #Misinformation #MentalHealth #RelationshipsResearch #QualitativeResearch #TrustAndIntimacy #SocialPsychology #HealthAndWellbeing #CriticalThinking

Source:

Kamitz, L. C., Green, R., Rowden, C., Toribio‐Flórez, D., Biddlestone, M., & Douglas, K. M.. (2026). “You lose the person; they’re still there but you don’t recognize them”: A qualitative study examining the consequences of conspiracy beliefs for romantic partners. British Journal of Social Psychology, 65(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.70033

Conspiracy beliefs don’t spread in a vacuum.

Research highlights how financial incentives play a central role in drawing people deeper into conspiracy spaces — often at the expense of their wellbeing and relationships.

1️⃣ Conspiracy influencers as profit-seekers
Some participants described conspiracy influencers (YouTubers, streamers, online figures) as people who:

🎯 Target emotionally vulnerable individuals
🧠 Exploit fear, mistrust, and uncertainty
💸 Turn attention, clicks, and engagement into money

This reflects the argument made by Clare Birchall, who describes conspiracy entrepreneurs as actors who monetize distrust — encouraging audiences to distrust institutions, experts, and even loved ones for profit.

2️⃣ Not just radicalization — but exploitation
Importantly, participants did not view this only as political radicalization.

They believed their partners were being:

🛒 Targeted as consumers, not just as believers
🕸️ Drawn deeper into conspiracy spaces because:
📈 More engagement = more views
💰 More views = more ads, donations, merchandise, or subscriptions

While some influencers may have political motives, most partners emphasized financial exploitation as the dominant driver.

3️⃣ How people get pulled deeper

Participants described a familiar pattern once engagement began:

🤖 Algorithms feeding increasingly extreme content
📣 Influencers encouraging constant watching, sharing, and donating
🧾 Monetized content (ads, merchandise, “exclusive truths”) reinforcing belief and dependency

This aligns with findings by Cameron Ballard and colleagues, who show that conspiracy content is frequently surrounded by predatory advertising and alternative monetization strategies, effectively turning belief into revenue.

4️⃣ The irony at the heart of the conspiracy sphere

This leads to the study’s most striking insight:

🧩 People believe they are uncovering hidden financial conspiracies
💰 Yet their fear and distrust are themselves being systematically monetized
🎭 The conspiracy sphere becomes the very conspiracy it claims to expose
This is why the authors describe the situation as an unfortunate irony.

🧠 One-sentence takeaway
Many conspiracy beliefs are sustained not only by ideology, but by an economic system in which influencers profit from fear, distrust, and constant engagement — turning belief itself into a form of exploitation.

Sources:

Ballard, C., Goldstein, I., Mehta, P., Smothers, G., Take, K., Zhong, V., Greenstadt, R., Lauinger, T., & McCoy, D. (2022). Conspiracy brokers: Understanding the monetization of YouTube conspiracy theories. In Proceedings of the ACM Web Conference 2022 (pp. 2707–2718). ACM Digital Library. https://doi.org/10.1145/3485447.3512142

Birchall, C. (2021). The paranoid style for sale: Conspiracy entrepreneurs, marketplace bots, and surveillance capitalism. Symploke, 29(1–2), 97–121. https://doi.org/10.1353/sym.2021.0006

Kamitz, L. C., Green, R., Rowden, C., Toribio‐Flórez, D., Biddlestone, M. & Douglas, K. M. (2026). “You lose the person; they’re still there but you don’t recognize them”: A qualitative study examining the consequences of conspiracy beliefs for romantic partners. British Journal of Social Psychology, 65(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.70033