Psychologists have identified a number of psychological traits that are related to conspiracy beliefs, including the predisposition to see systematic patterns where there is only random noise or to interpret coincidence as intentional cause.
But when it comes to a global pandemic — and the deaths, social isolation and collapsing economy that it has brought about — three other factors are key: uncertainty, anxiety and powerlessness.
The object of the conspiracy theories — the coronavirus — is, itself, the source of the undesirable psychological states that promote beliefs in conspiracy theories. In other words, coronavirus conspiracy beliefs are a self-fulling prophecy.
This is dangerous because belief in conspiracies undermines societal behaviors that are crucial to limiting the damage of the virus. Social distancing, hand-washing, and wearing masks in public all have the most impact at the outset of a global pandemic
Political and social leaders can combat pandemic-induced anxiety and uncertainty by visibly taking the threat seriously, including steps to promote public health and reduce the negative economic impact on people.
Even merely demonstrating that they are working hard to address the crisis and avoiding engaging in conspiratorial rhetoric themselves could limit the likelihood of the mass public turning further toward conspiracy theories for relief.
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