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Conspiracy beliefs as an adaptation to historical trauma
1Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Stawki 5/7, 00-183, Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
Conspiracy beliefs are often viewed as a form of psychopathology, closely linked to anxiety, paranoia, and maladaptive traits. However, recent research has brought attention to adaptive and functional aspects of conspiracy theories. This article presents a framework for understanding conspiracy beliefs as a paradoxical adaptation to historical trauma. There is vast evidence that three essential aspects of historical trauma (loss of personal and collective control, status devaluation, and victimhood) constitute the key antecedents of conspiracy beliefs. Although conspiracy theories might be adaptive in times of shared trauma (e.g., war, colonization), they become maladaptive in times of peace and prosperity. The popularity of conspiracy theories in historically traumatized societies threatens individuals' health and well-being, social trust, cohesiveness, and intergroup harmony.
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