Who Believes in Conspiracy Theories?

"The WHO estimates that over 100,000 children died of measles worldwide in 2023, most of them unvaccinated. Many would have missed the vaccine because of poor access to healthcare in poor areas, but vaccine hesitancy has been a key factor in developed countries in recent years. The BBC reports that, according to data released by Johns Hopkins University, there were nearly 1,300 confirmed measles cases in the US in July this year- a 33-year high. The vast majority were unvaccinated."

"Some say, for instance, that conspiracy theories help to provide simple explanations for complex issues in a confusing world, or that they appeal attractively to a Manichean and simplistic view of the world, eternally divided between the forces of good and evil. Believing that evil members of the social elite are tirelessly conspiring to harm and hide the truth from the powerless may provide some psychological comfort to individuals with a low self-esteem."

Conspiracy theories range from the almost credible to the frankly paranoid and bizarre, with some causing serious harm. Vaccine misinformation has contributed to preventable deaths and resurgences of controlled diseases. The WHO estimates over 100,000 children died of measles worldwide in 2023, mostly unvaccinated, with both poor healthcare access and vaccine hesitancy implicated. Nearly 1,300 confirmed US measles cases in July marked a 33-year high, predominantly among the unvaccinated. AIDS denialism in South Africa is estimated to have caused roughly 330,000 deaths. Psychological explanations include desires for simple explanations, Manichean worldviews, and comfort for low self-esteem.

Read at Psychology Today