Many believe the moon landing was faked and as well, suspect the 9/11 attacks were a government cover up. Turns out, if you’re an avid conspiracy theorist, you could be doing it for attention. New research says some people like to believe in conspiracy theories because they like to be different, and so take on beliefs that are out of the ordinary.
People need to feel they’re in control of their lives. For instance, many people feel safer when they’re the driver in the car rather than a passenger. I do, too. Even though my partner Sheila is a much better driver and has had far less mishaps, I am terrified when she is at the wheel. Go figure!
I must admit there is one conspiracy that I can’t let go of. One belief under the heading of alien contacts is the 1947 crash of a flying saucer in Roswell, New Mexico. The ensuing government coverup of claiming it was a weather balloon didn’t deter the fact of that incident being linked to a top-secret military base where experimental research was carried out. I am unable to shake the notion that this study was actually on aliens captured from their spacecraft accident.
Even in our immediate area there have been too many documented UFO sightings to ignore. One such case in 1969 had OPP constables dispatched to Petawawa where they suddenly stopped their squad car. In the sky was the UFO, moving slowly in a south-easterly direction. Other disbelieving motorists pulled over to watch the anomaly. One officer figured the object was cylindrical in shape and hovering 1,500 feet above the ground but curiously had no solid body or form. Three military policemen also watched the object in amazement. The UFO moved in a slow, continuous orbit for another 40 minutes before it disappeared west of Pembroke. {For more sightings – see UFO’s – Upper Ottawa Valley}
Research shows that people who feel socially marginalized are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. We all have a desire to maintain a positive self-image, which usually comes from playing roles in life like jobs, family and friends, and making a positive difference in the lives of others. But say Uncle Willie is on disability and hasn’t worked in years. Feeling socially excluded, he may have time to discover conspiracy theories and compare with others who hold similar beliefs. Thus, belief in conspiracy theories gives Uncle Willie a sense of community as well as the holder of privileged knowledge. And so, when he starts touting out all the ‘evidence’ against global warming, it can be difficult to make a reasonable counterargument.
Likewise, conspiracy theories can give their believers a sense of control and security. For example, if global temperatures are rising catastrophically due to human activity, then one will have to make painful changes to a comfortable lifestyle. But if some politicians assure that global warming is a hoax, then the current way of living can be maintained. This kind of reasoning is an important component in conspiracy theory beliefs. It can be fun to argue with conspiracy theorists but their tales can also be damaging. For example, those who believe climate change isn’t real are spreading dangerous falsities about the environment.
It is estimated that at least half of the people believe in at least one conspiracy theory. Ones that are relatively harmless like President Obama’s birth certificate issue or the long-running ‘Paul is dead’ theory, which alleges that Paul McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a look-alike. That conspiracy is totally false: He is the real thing. The one that has lizard people controlling the world is a ludicrous one. Then there are dangerous theories being passed around – the FDA withholding a cure for cancer, the Holocaust did not happen and chemtrails spotted from planes that spew chemicals to control the population. A typical conspiracy believer “is an apprehensive and non-rational individual.” He may not be correct but he will be remembered.
Unfortunately, tackling these untrue stories with more science and information can actually make people even more skeptical. Hundreds of studies have shown there is no link between vaccination and autism, but that doesn’t stop some people from preventing their children getting vaccinated.
The thinking is that merely mentioning the myths actually helps to reinforce them. And then as time passes you are left with just the memory of the myth itself because they are often tantalizing and more interesting than the real story.
Van Prooijen, a Dutch researcher, proclaims a strategy for combatting conspiracy theories, “If you give people a feeling of control, then they are less inclined to believe in conspiracy theories.”
Even though the facts denote that conspiracy theories are not to be believed, the attraction of believing them maintain their survivability.
