PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) Conspiracy theorists are often dismissed on social media. But some QAnon supporters were among those who stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, and a growing number of Americans believe in conspiracy theories. So why do people believe these ideas when facts show they arent true?

Many conspiracy theories are dangerous, said psychologist Dr. John Grohol.

When you get into the strongest believers, it can really start looking like someone who has been indoctrinated into a cult, said Grohol.

He studies human behavior and technology and said people who believe conspiracy theories put information together that doesnt make sense in order to fit what they want to believe.

And they tend to be more fearful, anxious and narcissistic.

People who tend to think their view of the world is the one that matters most. People with narcissism engage in more paranoid thinking. And they tend to believe that the actions of other people are targeted toward them, he explained.

There are more people buying into these falsehoods because of social media.

So if you have that kind of out-there theory, you can find other people who share that same belief far more easily than you could have 20 years ago on the internet, he added.

Since the pandemic, people have been more isolated and spending more time online, which is also contributing to the problem.

Excerpt from:
What makes people believe in conspiracy theories? - RADIO.COM