Human evolution might be to blame for the spreading of conspiracy theories
Research suggests that conspiracy theories might actually improve the reputations of people who spread them.
Spreading conspiracy claims and thinking positively of those who spread them might be part of human evolution.
It might call to mind images of gullible, tin-hat sporting social outcasts. However, many other people, including “politicians, online influencers and anti-vaccination proponents,” have deployed conspiracy theories frequently and with great effect on their audiences. Examples like these suggest that individuals can actually benefit from spreading these outlandish claims. This could, of course, demonstrate a direct connection to why they would choose to spread them at all.
Being ever suspicious of members of other groups and vigilant of possible threats from these could be beneficial to a group’s survival. It makes them more responsive to real threats and less likely to be surprised by an enemy. Of course, it would also increase the dangers of false positives: of spotting a threat where there isn’t one. However, overactive vigilance would be much less problematic to the group’s survival than a tendency to miss warning signs. Conspiracy theories would provide this vigilance, enhance threat perception, and encourage responsive behaviors. They would contribute to the survival of societies in conflict situations at the expense of other groups that are less suspicious.
In social contexts, conspiracy theorists would be analogous to members of the group who take it upon themselves to sound the alarm. Far from being stigmatized for this, in their capacity as the group’s defenders they could benefit from an increase in esteem and reputation from their fellows. They might even be perceived as strong leaders.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blo...y-theories
Research suggests that conspiracy theories might actually improve the reputations of people who spread them.
Spreading conspiracy claims and thinking positively of those who spread them might be part of human evolution.
It might call to mind images of gullible, tin-hat sporting social outcasts. However, many other people, including “politicians, online influencers and anti-vaccination proponents,” have deployed conspiracy theories frequently and with great effect on their audiences. Examples like these suggest that individuals can actually benefit from spreading these outlandish claims. This could, of course, demonstrate a direct connection to why they would choose to spread them at all.
Being ever suspicious of members of other groups and vigilant of possible threats from these could be beneficial to a group’s survival. It makes them more responsive to real threats and less likely to be surprised by an enemy. Of course, it would also increase the dangers of false positives: of spotting a threat where there isn’t one. However, overactive vigilance would be much less problematic to the group’s survival than a tendency to miss warning signs. Conspiracy theories would provide this vigilance, enhance threat perception, and encourage responsive behaviors. They would contribute to the survival of societies in conflict situations at the expense of other groups that are less suspicious.
In social contexts, conspiracy theorists would be analogous to members of the group who take it upon themselves to sound the alarm. Far from being stigmatized for this, in their capacity as the group’s defenders they could benefit from an increase in esteem and reputation from their fellows. They might even be perceived as strong leaders.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blo...y-theories
teachings of the Bible are so muddled and self-contradictory that it was possible for Christians to happily burn heretics alive for five long centuries. It was even possible for the most venerated patriarchs of the Church, like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to conclude that heretics should be tortured (Augustine) or killed outright (Aquinas). Martin Luther and John Calvin advocated the wholesale murder of heretics, apostates, Jews, and witches. - Sam Harris, "Letter To A Christian Nation"
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