Conspiracy theorists are probably control freaks, study reveals

"People often assume conspiracy beliefs form because someone isn't thinking critically. But our findings show that for those who prefer systematic structure, conspiracy theories can feel like a highly organised way to understand confusing or unpredictable events."

"What stood out is that people who systemise strongly want the world to make sense in a very consistent way. Conspiracy theories often offer that sense of order. They tie loose ends together. Even when someone has strong reasoning ability, their desire for strict explanations can overshadow their ability to question those beliefs."

"The study also found that people with strong systemising preferences were less flexible when updating their beliefs when confronted with new evidence."

A study led by Dr Neophytos Georgiou at Flinders University examined over 550 people to understand why some individuals are drawn to conspiracy theories. Rather than poor reasoning, the research identifies a thinking style called 'systemising'—a preference for identifying patterns and understanding events through consistent rules—as a key factor. Individuals with strong systemising tendencies find conspiracy theories appealing because they offer organized frameworks that make sense of confusing or unpredictable events. Notably, this preference for systematic structure persists even among people with strong scientific reasoning skills. The study also reveals that those with high systemising preferences are less flexible when updating beliefs with new evidence, which helps explain the difficulty in changing conspiracy believers' minds.

Read at Mail Online