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conspiracy theories

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·April 9, 2025·5 min read

Who Falls for Fake News? Study Reveals Surprising Patterns

A global study of over 66,000 people reveals that susceptibility to misinformation varies across age, gender, education, and political ideology. Participants took a test to judge whether news headlines were real or fake, and those in Generation Z, women, conservatives, and less-educated individuals were more likely to believe misinformation.

This shows a person at a crossroads with signs saying "truth", "conspiracy", and "spite".

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 3, 2025·4 min read

Study Links Spite to Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

A new study finds that spite—driven by feelings of uncertainty, threat, or disadvantage—plays a key role in conspiracy theory belief. Researchers analyzed data from 1,000 participants and found that spiteful motives strengthened the link between conspiracy thinking and the need for understanding, security, and social significance.

This shows people looking at screens with True and False written on them.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 30, 2024·6 min read

Extreme Political Views Drive Higher Belief in Misinformation

A new study reveals that users with extreme political views are more likely to encounter and believe online misinformation. The research shows that misinformation spreads across the political spectrum, but its impact is most pronounced among those with conservative or liberal extremes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 12, 2024·4 min read

AI Conversations Help Conspiracy Theorists Change Their Views

AI-powered conversations can reduce belief in conspiracy theories by 20%. Researchers found that AI provided tailored, fact-based rebuttals to participants' conspiracy claims, leading to a lasting change in their beliefs. In one out of four cases, participants disavowed the conspiracy entirely. The study suggests that AI has the potential to combat misinformation by engaging people directly and personally.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 4, 2024·6 min read

MMR Vaccine Myths Persist Amid Rising Cases

A new survey found that 24% of U.S. adults incorrectly believe the MMR vaccine causes autism, despite CDC evidence to the contrary. This misconception contributes to vaccine hesitancy and rising measles cases. The survey highlights the need for better public education on vaccine safety.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 9, 2024·3 min read

Why We Fail to Spot Our Own Conspiracy Beliefs

A new study suggests the difficulty in recognizing one’s own beliefs as conspiracy theories contributes to the stigma around "conspiracy theorists." Despite many Americans holding beliefs that could be classified as conspiratorial, the study found that individuals struggle to label these beliefs accurately, especially without reflection or a clear understanding of what constitutes a conspiracy theory.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 7, 2023·4 min read

Truth Relativism and its Ties to Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

Researchers explored the link between the belief that truth is relative and susceptibility to conspiracy theories. Two studies, involving Swedes and Brits, evaluated participants’ perspectives on truth and their responses to conspiracy theories and nonsensical sentences.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 29, 2023·5 min read

The Language of Lies: How Hate Speech Engages Our Neural Wiring to Foster Division

Researchers analyze the language of dictators and hate groups, uncovering a common use of dehumanizing metaphors to fuel hatred. Such metaphors 'switch on' neural pathways in the brain, bypassing higher cognitive reasoning centers and steering focus towards certain ideas.

This shows a man looking at the "magic eye".

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 26, 2023·4 min read

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theorists: More Than Just Paranoia

A new study delves into the intricate psyche of conspiracy theorists, attributing their beliefs to a mixture of personality traits and motivations. The study suggests conspiracy theorists are not necessarily 'mentally unwell', but often resort to conspiracy theories to fulfill unmet needs and rationalize distress.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 13, 2022·6 min read

Cognitive Biases and Brain Biology Help Explain Why Facts Don’t Change Minds

Our worldview forms during childhood as a result of our socialization within a particular cultural context. Our views get reinforced over time by the social groups we keep, the media we consume, and even the way in which our brains are wired. Challenging our worldviews with facts can feel like an attack on our personal identities and can often result in hardening our positions. Researchers assess how we can open our minds and explore facts that may go against our personal worldviews.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 25, 2022·2 min read

Stress Increases Beliefs That Underlie Disorders and Conspiracy Theories

Study examines why conspiracy theories and psychiatric disorders historically tend to peak during periods of social crisis and stress.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 10, 2022·6 min read

Buying Into Conspiracy Theories Can Be Exciting – That’s What Makes Them Dangerous

Conspiracy theories aren't just appealing because of the alternative "information" they provide, they also evoke emotional responses that can be detrimental.

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conspiracy theories

Who Falls for Fake News? Study Reveals Surprising Patterns

Study Links Spite to Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

Extreme Political Views Drive Higher Belief in Misinformation

AI Conversations Help Conspiracy Theorists Change Their Views

MMR Vaccine Myths Persist Amid Rising Cases

Why We Fail to Spot Our Own Conspiracy Beliefs

Truth Relativism and its Ties to Conspiracy Theory Beliefs

The Language of Lies: How Hate Speech Engages Our Neural Wiring to Foster Division

The Psychology of Conspiracy Theorists: More Than Just Paranoia

Stress Increases Beliefs That Underlie Disorders and Conspiracy Theories

Buying Into Conspiracy Theories Can Be Exciting – That’s What Makes Them Dangerous

Early Alzheimer’s Clues Found in Adults as Young as 24

Tandem Repeats May Explain Autism Risk

Brain Prioritizes What to Remember When Memory Space Runs Low

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