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Conspiracy theories are one of the banes of the modern world, exacerbated by the internet and social media. What was once relegated to the fringe has now been pushed into the mainstream, actively shaping public discourse and policies. But why do so many people buy into these narratives even when they are contradicted by empirical facts?

In a new study published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology, researchers identify two psychological traits common among people with a conspiracist mindset: a sense of injustice and a low tolerance of ambiguity.

To reach their conclusions, the study authors focused on the idea of cover-ups, the belief that organizations and governments deliberately hide the truth from the public. They surveyed 253 people from several countries, asking them to rate statements such as "politicians usually do not tell us the true motives for their decisions" and "government agencies closely monitor all citizens."

The researchers then took a deep statistical dive into 14 variables, including age, sex, and mentality, to see which ones might explain why someone develops a conspiracist mentality. Three factors in particular stood out, accounting for nearly 20% of why people believe conspiracy theories.

Seeking order in chaos

The first is a low tolerance of ambiguity or TA. People with low TA find it difficult to handle stories or situations that are not abundantly clear or contain "shades of gray." They often feel anxious when a situation is unclear or random. Conspiracy theories remove this uncertainty by providing a simple, black-and-white explanation.

"It is evident why CTs appeal to individuals with low tolerance for ambiguity, as these theories provide a sense of certainty—albeit arguably unfounded—by simplifying complex issues into familiar CT narratives," commented the study authors.

The second factor is a sense of injustice. People who are sensitive to perceived injustices or who believe the world is unfairly rigged against them are more likely to subscribe to conspiracy theories. The belief that someone is "pulling the strings" or controlling the situation helps them to make sense of what is going on. For these individuals, a secret plot is a more satisfying explanation than the idea that the world is simply random and complex.

The researchers also found that people who are younger, as well as those who are more religious also have a stronger conspiracist mentality.

Fixing the problem

While the study sample size was small and most participants were middle-aged, highly educated professionals, the researchers nonetheless believe their insights can help us better inform people with conspiracy beliefs. They suggest that rather than just providing facts, solutions should focus on helping people manage uncertainty and addressing their underlying sense of powerlessness.

Written for you by our author Paul Arnold, edited by Gaby Clark, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Egan—this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You’ll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information: Adrian Furnham et al, Conspiracy Theory Mentality, Injustice and Tolerance of Ambiguity, Applied Cognitive Psychology (2025). DOI: 10.1002/acp.70151

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Citation: Psychological traits that may fuel conspiracy theorist mindset identified (2026, January 5) retrieved 5 January 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-01-psychological-traits-fuel-conspiracy-theorist.html

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