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conspiracy theories

This shows a doctor and herbal remedies.

·July 18, 2025·4 min read

Illusory Beliefs Fuel Risky Health Choices

Beliefs in pseudoscientific health ideas can undermine trust in conventional medicine and lead to riskier health decisions, a new study finds. Researchers analyzed over 1,500 participants and showed that stronger illusory beliefs were linked to higher use of unvalidated therapies and lower adherence to evidence-based practices.

This shows a person surrounded by aliens and things out of conspiracy theories.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 25, 2025·4 min read

Overconfident Minds Fuel Belief in Fringe Conspiracy Theories

New research reveals that people who believe in conspiracy theories tend to be overconfident and unaware of how unusual their views really are. Across eight studies, participants who believed in false conspiracies consistently overestimated their performance on cognitive tests and thought the majority of others agreed with them—even when they were in a clear minority.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 10, 2025·5 min read

Heavy Social Media Use Linked to Believing and Spreading Fake News

Individuals who experience high levels of distress and functional impairment from excessive social media use are significantly more likely to believe fake news and interact with it. Researchers found that problematic users were more inclined to click, like, comment on, and share false news stories, regardless of their accuracy.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 24, 2025·5 min read

How the Quest for Significance Fuels Conspiracy Beliefs

A deep psychological need to feel significant drives much of human behavior—and can also lead people toward conspiracy theories and extremist beliefs. Drawing from decades of research and real-world examples, experts explain how feelings of insignificance, especially in uncertain times, make people more susceptible to narratives that promise belonging, identity, and a sense of control.

This shows a brain and a girl holding a phone.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·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.