Conspiracy theories boost war support, study finds
Conspiracy theories increase public support for war and reduce humanitarian concern for the enemy, a large-scale international study finds.
Why it matters
- Conspiracy theories can shape public attitudes towards war, even in countries not directly involved.
- These beliefs can lead to increased support for military aggression and reduced humanitarian concern.
By the numbers
- Studies involved over 3,000 participants across multiple countries.
- Belief in conspiracy theories predicted increased support for military actions and reduced humanitarian support.
The big picture
- Historical examples, like Hitler's justification for invading the Soviet Union, align with the study's findings.
- The study suggests that conspiracy theories can make another group seem more threatening, justifying aggression.
What they're saying
- Historical examples and comments support the study's findings, indicating that conspiracy theories have long been used to justify war.
Caveats
- The study was conducted in countries not directly involved in the conflicts, so the impact on citizens of warring nations is unknown.
What’s next
- More research is needed to understand why conspiracy theories influence support for war and how this dynamic plays out in directly affected populations.