In search of gratification: Psychological Benefits of Believing Conspiracy Theories

Psychological Benefits of Believing Conspiracy Theories. Jan-Willem van Prooijen. Current Opinion in Psychology, May 5 2022, 101352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101352

Highlights

• Despite their negative effects, many people find conspiracy theories appealing.

• Conspiracy theories can be rewarding by providing a sense of meaning and purpose.

• This meaning and purpose sparks feelings of importance, legitimacy, and excitement.

• The benefits of conspiracy theories are likely a form of instant gratification.

Abstract: Many people believe conspiracy theories, even though such beliefs are harmful to themselves and their social environment. What is the appeal of conspiracy theories? In this contribution I propose that conspiracy theories have psychological benefits by imbuing perceiver’s worldview with meaning and purpose in a rewarding manner. Conspiracy theories enable an alternative reality in which perceivers (a) can defend a fragile ego by perceiving themselves and their groups as important, (b) can rationalize any of their beliefs and actions as legitimate, and (c) are entertained through the opportunity to uncover a mystery in an exciting tale. These are short-term benefits, however, suggesting that conspiracy theories provide people with a form of instant gratification.

Keywords: Conspiracy TheoriesPsychological BenefitsAlternative RealityInstant Gratification

1.3. Conspiracy theories as entertainment

A third way in which conspiracy theories contribute to meaning and purpose is by creating an alternative reality that is exciting, attention-grabbing, and spectacular. Conspiracy theories typically portray an archetypical struggle between good and evil, and introduce mystery about the potentially dubious role of powerful and important societal actors (e.g., politicians; celebrities). It is therefore not surprising that the plotlines of many works of fiction – including novels, theater plays, and movies – center around conspiracies [47]. Believing conspiracy theories turns perceivers into active players in such spectacular narratives, and gives them the opportunity – much like lay detectives – to uncover a mystery. Believing conspiracy theories hence offers people entertainment.

At first blush, this psychological benefit might seem discrepant with the notion that conspiracy theories can increase negative emotions such as anxiety [24]. Note, however, that many popular sources of entertainment are likely to increase anxiety (e.g., scary movies; detective novels; gambling; bungee jumping). People often do not avoid such negative emotions; instead, people are drawn to events that provide intense emotional experiences, which may include emotions that are negative, positive, or both [48]. Such intense emotional experiences are exciting, and make people feel alive.

Research supports the notion that people experience conspiracy beliefs as entertaining. Conspiracy beliefs are associated with dispositional aversion to boredom [49], and with the more general trait sensation-seeking, reflecting people’s desire for intense sensations and experiences [50]. Sensation-seeking also predicts a range of phenomena closely related with conspiracy beliefs, including radicalization and participation in violent extremist groups [51,52], and supernatural beliefs [53,54]. Moreover, conspiracy beliefs are associated with not only negative but also positive emotions [55].

Experimental studies underscore the entertainment value of conspiracy theories. Participants rated a conspiratorial text (about the Notre Dame fire or the death of Jeffrey Epstein) as more entertaining than a text describing the official account of these events. These entertainment appraisals subsequently predicted increased belief in these conspiracy theories. An additional study showed that people more strongly believed that an election event was rigged if it was described in an entertaining rather than a boring manner [50]. These findings illuminate that people find conspiracy theories entertaining, which motivates increased belief in them.