Why do people believe conspiracy theories?

Psychologists identify three broad motives: epistemic, the desire to understand and find certainty; existential, the need to feel safe and in control; and social, the desire to feel good about oneself and one’s group. Big, frightening events often seem to deserve big explanations, a bias called proportionality bias. Our brains are also wired to see patterns and intentions, even in random events. Social media can spread claims quickly and create echo chambers. Research suggests that “prebunking”, warning people about manipulation techniques in advance, can make them more resistant to misinformation.