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20 deaths in history that inspired massive conspiracy theories - MSN

msn.com

When official explanations leave gaps, human minds rush to fill them — and these 20 historical deaths reveal exactly why conspiracy theories are almost psychologically inevitable.

Proportionality BiasEpistemic AnxietyConspiracy Theory PsychologyPattern Recognition

Theory Briefing

  • Twenty historical deaths, from JFK to Princess Diana, each sparked mass conspiracy theories when official verdicts felt incomplete.
  • Proportionality bias drives people to reject simple explanations for major events, demanding causes as large as the loss itself.
  • Epistemic anxiety and distrust of institutions fuel pattern-seeking, turning ambiguous evidence into elaborate alternative narratives.