"Gullible" would be the obvious answer, but what about someone who's very logical and very careful about what he believes who buys into some theories to the point that it affects his lifestyle? What is it that causes this?
The only thing that I can think of is that they can't accept that some things are just flukes or considences. They have to see a reason behind everything.
2007-11-07 17:10:05 · 6 answers · asked by Jade <>< 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Conspiracy theories create an opposition that they can handle mentally. They see a world full of problem and cannot conceive of the solutions. The idea that the world is inherently this fXXked up is too much for them to take.
There has to be a center to it all, one single source from which all wrongs and evils emanate and if this single target can be exposed it will solve everything.
It's a bit like how primitive man anthropomophized death and the forces of nature to try and understand his world and created religion. They put a face on things beyond their mental scale.
2007-11-07 23:00:16 · answer #1 · answered by sgtcosgrove 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes conspiracy theories make sense. And perhaps the word "gullible" could be better applied towards someone who blindly believes what they're told. Like that something's not a conspiracy, for example. People who truly believe in conspiracy theories have their reasons for doing so, and odds are they are backed by solid information/evidence, which may not be accessable or conprehensible to the Average Joe.
2007-11-07 17:28:09 · answer #2 · answered by Dutch Girl 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you're right. What I notice is that conspiracy theories are similar to religions and academic theory in that people with imagination or with a strong bent toward theorizing tend to gravitate toward them. It's not just the "crazies" who go in for it.
My hypothesis is along the lines of what you wrote, there are people who need everything to have a reason. I think in certain types of people, that need is so strong that they cannot but help fitting things into a grand theory, regardless of how plausible. These people must create grand narratives as their nature demands.
2007-11-07 17:14:36 · answer #3 · answered by Underground Man 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i do agree that people can go overboard....however many educated, well-read people who have life experience and knowledge tend to believe conspiracy theories.....sometimes there is more then what meets the eye
2007-11-07 17:14:03 · answer #4 · answered by saraJ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paranoia.
2007-11-07 18:08:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's starts off with believing in Santa Claus as a child, and then liberalism causes a deterioration of the mind in adulthood.
2007-11-07 17:12:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋