Why Conspiracy Theories Spread | Explained by Sohail khan Part 3

Why Conspiracy Theories Spread | Explained by Sohail khan  Part 2

 The reasons can be divided into two main categories

One is psychological reasons and another is social reasons

Talking about psychological reasons first,

several research papers have shown that conspiracy theories are a means

of understanding the complex world and organizing information for the humans

especially the extraordinary, earth-shattering events that do not have a clear explanation

We do not know the exact causes behind them

So, we try to fill in the missing information with our curiosity

Humans tend to do this

For example, everyone knows how many flights and ships have gone missing from there

But we do not know the explanation behind this

So, several people have come up with a conspiracy theory that aliens carry the flights and ships away

Similarly, in the case of the recently disappeared Malaysian Airlines

Why Conspiracy Theories Spread | Explained by Sohail khan  Part 3

Nobody knows where it is and nothing was found either

So, several people have come up with a conspiracy theory that aliens carried the flight away

Or extremely unique events- that had very few chances of happening, but they did happen

Events like these give rise to the most number of conspiracy theories

9/11, moon landing, coronavirus

All of these are examples of extremely unique events that are extraordinary and do not happen normally

and they surprise us greatly

There is another reason which is called "illusionary pattern perception"

Why Conspiracy Theories Spread | Explained by Sohail khan  Part 3

I will explain it to you with an example: 

Write down in the comments below

If you've written down the comment, I'll tell you an interesting thing:

 Look at this photo which has been captured in Iceland

Can you spot an elephant's face here?

Why Conspiracy Theories Spread | Explained by Sohail khan  Part 3

Humans tend to look for a pattern always- to connect the dots

We try and relate different events with one another

So, we try and look for a pattern even when there is none!

No matter how completely random the things are, we still try and look for an explanation or pattern there

Some people have a higher tendency to do this when compared to others

But if you take this to an extreme level and apply this to every aspect of your life,

then it might change your thinking

This type of thinking is called "teleological thinking"

Let me explain with the help of another example

If you ask a 3-year-old child- Why does it rain?

Why Conspiracy Theories Spread | Explained by Sohail khan  Part 3

He might answer that it rains because the plants and the trees get thirsty

and it rains so that their thirst is quenched

Or you can ask him why are there leaves on a tree?