Are Conspiracy Theories Just Gossip in Disguise? - YouTube
youtube.com
Conspiracy theories may be hardwired into us — this video argues they're just gossip evolved to a societal scale, revealing why our brains can't stop spreading them.
Evolutionary PsychologySocial Epistemic TheoryInformation CascadeIn-Group/Out-Group Dynamics
Theory Briefing
- Conspiracy theories and gossip share the same social glue — both spread unverified claims about powerful or hidden actors.
- Evolutionary psychology suggests gossip evolved as a coalition-building tool, and conspiracy theories may hijack that same mental circuitry.
- If conspiracies are just gossip scaled up, then debunking them with facts misses the point — the social reward is the real driver.