People turn to conspiracy theories in a subconscious quest to feel like they 'matter', research suggests [View all]

[Nevilledog]

https://phys.org/news/2025-04-people-conspiracy-theories-subconscious-quest.html


While all people are innately driven to find meaning in their lives, this subconscious desire pulls some people to conspiracy theories and dangerous belief systems.

After an extensive review of psychological research, renowned social psychologist Arie Kruglanski and journalist Dan Raviv show how people's need for 'significance' propels our actions, governs our feelings, and dominates our thoughts in their new book "The Quest for Significance".

"Experts on human motivation contend that all people share the same set of basic needs, and everything people do, try to attain, or avoid is in the service of satisfying one or more of those basic needs," they explain.

"The need for significance and mattering is one such preeminent basic need that all people have."

Drawing on both academic, peer-reviewed research and the personal experiences of the authors, including Kruglanski's childhood in Poland during the Holocaust, the authors explore how this need for meaning can motivate people towards harmful and even violent acts—including believing conspiracy theories. They also suggest that self-awareness is key to how people can avoid becoming susceptible.

The authors spotlight factors that make modern society "fraught with uncertainty," from financial chaos to the Ukraine war, the rise of authoritarians, and global health crises.

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