Research by Psychology Professors, Karen Douglas and Robbie Sutton has been referenced in an op-ed for the New York Times, in regards to the QAnon conspiracy theory.<\/p>\n
The NY Times<\/a> article<\/a> authored by Thomas B Edsall focuses on why millions of Americans continue to actively participate in multiple conspiracy theories.<\/p>\n The research paper, ‘Dead and Alive: Beliefs in Contradictory Conspiracy Theories<\/a>‘ by Kent<\/a>\u00a0Psychology<\/a> Professors, Karen Douglas<\/a> and Robbie Sutton<\/a> found that a large percentage of people drawn to conspiracy thinking are willing to endorse \u201cmutually incompatible conspiracy theories.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeople are attracted to conspiracy theories when important psychological needs are not being met.\u201d \u2013 Professor Karen Douglas<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Douglas identifies three such needs: \u201cthe need for knowledge and certainty\u201d; the \u201cexistential need\u201d to “feel safe and secure\u201d when \u201cpowerless and scared\u201d; and, among those high in narcissism, the \u201cneed to feel unique compared to others.\u201d<\/p>\n