Jan-Willem Van Prooijen (2018) describes the process of development of a conspiracy theory: “The first (step) is that conspiracy theory (believers) demonizes outsiders. Extremist fringe groups make rather sharp distinctions between “us” versus “them”, and conspiracy theories enable these groups to solidify a strong identity among their members by fueling aversion against different groups. The second process is that conspiracy theories enable extremist groups to discredit criticism of the group. Dissenting voices may threaten the cohesion of extremist groups, but conspiracy theories enable these groups to portray critics as part of a hostile conspiracy.
Third, conspiracy theories can give extremist fringe groups the feeling that violence is the only remaining option to protect themselves and their way of life. More specifically, conspiracy theories can add to the sense that the group – or the cause that the group stands for – is under imminent attack by a hostile conspiracy, that there is an urgent need for an adequate response, and that a peaceful reaction is unlikely to be effective” (Van Prooijen, 2018).
Researchers hypothesize that conspiracy theories have been a part of human psychology forever – they are a natural function of people attempting to understand a complex and increasingly fast changing world and developing reasoning in a protective manner. In terms of the formal definition of a conspiracy theory, there is always some form of threat that is omnipresent, multifaceted and complex. People viscerally respond to these threats by attempting to identify patterns, causality and culpability.
Such illusory pattern perception is a result of the evolved human tendency to make sense of the world and, by extension, could produce a sensitivity to conspiracy theories” Conspiracy Theories: Evolved Functions and Psychological Mechanisms – PMC (nih.gov)
These threats are almost always perceived to be orchestrated by powerful individuals in out-groups. When leaders and experts associated with these out-groups attempt to explain the dynamics of what is emerging (like Covid19, terrorist threats, economic hardship etc.) they are almost always disbelieved by in-groups – in effect, any expert attempting to explain away a threat, is perceived as part of the threat.
Conspiracy theorists are almost always at odds with experts in the specific field of science involved in dealing with threatening social issues such as Covid, other diseases, terrorism (9/11) and disasters such as war or assassinations (Joseph E. Uscinski (2018a). For example, Uscinski describes, going back to 1956, observers noted that science and experts were often powerless at the hands of conspiracy theories. One can imagine the frustration experienced by experts and medical scientists such as Doctor Anthony Fauci when confronted by angry cynics who reject almost all scientific logic and reasoning ultimately to their own detriment.
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