"Conspiracy theory explains an event of being the result of alleged plot by a group, organization or government." Although historically many conspiracy theories turned out to be true (Operation Ajax, Kennedy Assassination, Illuminati, etc...) but one cannot explain every strong phenomena by this theory.
We are culturally used to adopt this theory in many aspects. We have to give up the idea that there is an office somewhere where a group of people meet and control every single aspect in every country, for every event at all times. Predictions can be made about everything but certainty cannot be the norm. Our people enjoy this theory and many get the rush of "feeling intelligent" due to certain analysis about an event in terms of this theory. Yes some conspiracies can exist but building all ideas, plans and moves on such a thing will definitely jeopardize all the credibility of one's argument. Give a space to randomness and allow the unpredictably of human behavior to explain events.
Trying to determine the reasons behind the heavy adoption of this theory, I arrived to somewhat a satisfying explanation after researching this topic and determining the socio-psychological factors behind such belief.
Trying to determine the reasons behind the heavy adoption of this theory, I arrived to somewhat a satisfying explanation after researching this topic and determining the socio-psychological factors behind such belief.
- We culturally deal with things from an emotional point of view, and thus we strive sometimes for rationality, hence we try to explain randomness through a meaningful pattern.
- Since our region has been struggling with wars and instability for ages, people try to turn a blind eye on the main reason of such a history and tend to blame it on others. In order to have a clear evidence on what they already believe, they create such a rational pattern that satisfy their blame and that explains events.
- Also due to instability in our region, people imagine to live in a predictable and safe world. Since instability creates discomfort and in order to eliminate this discomfort, people tailor theories that best fit a certain explanation which makes them feel either safer or helpless. In both cases, it is a relief.
It seems that nb 1 and 3 apply to religion and the presence of God as well.
ReplyDeleteI guess you can make such an argument about belief in general from nb3 but I don't see how nb1 is related.
ReplyDeleteI will also add the two following reasons for why people from our region are obsessed with conspiracy theory:
ReplyDelete1-Many people who have lived under dictatorial rule their for years cannot perceive or understand that under democracy, people are held accountable and thus the idea that one homogeneous group from one party or one ideology controlling the entire game becomes obsolete.
2-"Political laziness," in other words, people would like to justify their inaction towards everything that is going on by simply adopting the idea that "it is all a large global conspiracy which we are helpless about." And that is the general attitude of people who have lived long enough under dictatorships to assume that since the "foreign powers are not saving them, then the world is conspiring with their leaders."
The first reason is an excellent one and I would add it to my other three reasons. The second one actually can go under nb3 which is a more general view of the same idea. I did not think about it from this point of view though.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the input.